Development and evaluation of HIV-1 subtype RNA panels for the standardization of HIV-1 NAT assays.
Multiple nucleic acid-based techniques (NAT) have been implemented for testing blood and plasma donors for HIV-1 RNA which may be detected at an earlier stage of infection when HIV antigen or antibody is absent or below the limit of detection of current assays. The available NAT assays are based on different technologies. In order to evaluate the performance of nucleic acid-based techniques (NAT assays) and to allow accurate comparisons of results from different assays, it is essential to have well characterized specimens with known copy numbers as a standard. For this purpose, a comprehensive study was conducted to develop two HIV-1 RNA reference panels. The first (Panel 1) was prepared using a single specimen from the HIV-1 group M subtype B and consists of panel members with a wide range of HIV-1 RNA copy numbers. Panel 2 consists of 26 members representing HIV-1 group M subtypes A, C, D, E, F, G and groups O and N. For accurate determination of HIV-1 RNA copy numbers of each member of Panel 2, they were analyzed using various testing platforms/technologies available through the cooperation of five independent laboratories participating in the study. A consensus value for HIV RNA copy number was assigned to each member of Panel 2 based on statistical analysis of the data provided by the participants. Both panels could serve as reference panels to be used by manufacturers of HIV NAT tests to evaluate the sensitivity limits of their assays.
Lee
Sherwin
S
Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US FDA, 1401 Rockville Pike (HFM-315), Rockville, MD 20852, United States.
Wood
Owen
O
Taffs
Rolf E
RE
Hu
Jinjie
J
Machuca
Ana
A
Vallejo
Alejandro
A
Hewlett
Indira
I
D005821:Genetic Techniques; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D020871:RNA Stability; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012015:Reference Standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019562:Viral Load
D012367:RNA, Viral