Evaluation of the Abbott Real-Time HIV-1 quantitative assay with dried blood spot specimens.
The Abbott Real-Time HIV-1 assay was evaluated for its performance in quantification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA in dried blood spot (DBS) samples. In total, 169 blood samples with detectable plasma HIV-1 RNA were used to extract RNA from paired DBS and liquid plasma samples, using the automated Abbott m Sample Preparation System (m2000sp). HIV-1 RNA was then quantitated by the m2000rt RealTime analyser. RNA samples suitable for real-time PCR were obtained from all but one (99.4%) of the DBS samples and HIV-1 RNA was detected in 163/168 (97.0%) samples. The correlation between HIV-1 RNA values measured in paired DBS and plasma samples was very high (r = 0.882), with 78.5% and 99.4% of cases differing by <0.5 and 1.0 log, respectively. Retesting of DBS replicates following 6 months of storage at 2-8 degrees C showed no loss of HIV-1 RNA in a subset of 89 samples. The feasibility of DBS testing coupled with automated sample processing, and the use of a latest-generation FDA-approved real-time PCR-based system, represents an encouraging first step for viral load measurement in reference centres in developing countries where access to antiretroviral therapy is expanding.
Marconi
A
A
Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Balestrieri
M
M
Comastri
G
G
Pulvirenti
F R
FR
Gennari
W
W
Tagliazucchi
S
S
Pecorari
M
M
Borghi
V
V
Marri
D
D
Zazzi
M
M
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D019562:Viral Load / Q000379:methods*
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral