Detection of low levels of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be critical for early diagnosis of pediatric HIV infection by use of dried blood spots.
We compared a DNA-based assay with a total nucleic acid-based assay for early detection of infant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The codetection of DNA and RNA did not result in an overall higher sensitivity compared to that of DNA alone. Discordant results were associated with low levels of HIV DNA, indicating that the sample amount may be critical.
Walter
Jan
J
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, 4546 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
Kuhn
Louise
L
Semrau
Katherine
K
Decker
Don W
DW
Sinkala
Moses
M
Kankasa
Chipepo
C
Thea
Donald M
DM
Bulterys
Marc
M
Ou
Chin-Yih
CY
Aldrovandi
Grace M
GM
D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003890:Desiccation; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral