title: [Evaluation of the COBAS ampliprep/COBAS TaqMan system for quantification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA by real-time PCR].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Viral load quantification is standard for monitoring HIV-1 therapy and is crucial in deciding whether to switch or to continue a current antiretroviral regimen. In Japan, serum is widely adapted as a specimen of the HIV-1 viral load quantification assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated an emerging HIV-1 RNA quantification of the COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 Test (COBAS TaqMan). The test was evaluated for matrix equivalence between plasma and serum and for correlation with the AMPLICOR HIV-1 Monitor Test v1.5 (Amplicor) for HIV-1 RNA quantification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The test result from serum specimens showed good correlation with test results from plasma specimens. HIV-1 RNA quantification results using serum specimens correlated well with those obtained by both ultrasensitivity assay and standard Amplicor assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fully automated COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 Test meets requirements for a wide dynamic range and reliable quantification of HIV-1 RNA in serum clinical specimens.
authors.affiliation: AIDS Clinical Center, International Medical Center of Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Teruya
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukutake
authors.forename: Kagehiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Furutani
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masaki
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D015497:HIV-1 / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019562:Viral Load; D014773:Virology / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral