title: Performance of the automated Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay on a genetically diverse panel of specimens from London: comparison to VERSANT HIV-1 RNA 3.0, AMPLICOR HIV-1 MONITOR v1.5, and LCx HIV RNA Quantitative assays.
abstract: Automated RNA extraction and quantitation of HIV-1 by real-time PCR offer potential advantages of efficient sample processing, improved sensitivity, expanded dynamic range and reduced contamination risk. In this study, plasma was collected from 100 HIV-1 infected patients visiting The Courtyard Clinic of St. George's Hospital in London, United Kingdom (UK). Viral loads measured using the automated Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay (m2000sp sample preparation and m2000rt amplification and detection instruments) were compared to results obtained with Versant HIV-1 RNA 3.0 (bDNA), AMPLICOR HIV-1 MONITOR v1.5 (Monitor v1.5) and LCx HIV RNA Quantitative (LCx HIV) assays. Based on gag p24, pol integrase, and env gp41 sequences, the panel included 26 subtype A, 20 B, 27 C, 10 D, 1 CRF01_AE, 3 CRF02_AG and 13 recombinant viruses. RealTime HIV-1, bDNA, Monitor v1.5 and LCx HIV quantitated 82, 74, 82, and 83% of samples, respectively, with 82, 71, 69 and 80 of the 100 samples measured within the dynamic ranges. Viral loads were highly correlated with 99% of values within 1 log(10) copies/ml between tests. The automated m2000 system and RealTime HIV-1 assay can increase laboratory throughput, enhance overall efficiency and reduce operator-associated errors while providing reliable quantitation of genetically diverse strains of HIV-1.
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, AIDS Research and Retrovirus Discovery, D-09NG, Bldg. AP20, 100 Abbott Park Road, Abbott Park, IL 60064-6015, USA.
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Holzmayer
authors.forename: Shihai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.forename: Ade
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adebiyi
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Klara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abravaya
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thamm
authors.forename: Sushil G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Devare
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hackett
mesh_terms: D001331:Automation; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D010949:Plasma / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic