HIV-1 viral load and phenotypic antiretroviral drug resistance assays based on reverse transcriptase activity in comparison to amplification based HIV-1 RNA and genotypic assays.
BACKGROUND
Amplification based HIV-1 viral load and genotypic resistance assays are expensive, technologically complex and may be difficult to implement in resource limited settings. Inexpensive, simpler assays are urgently needed.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the suitability of the ExaVir Load and ExaVir Drug assays for use in patient monitoring.


METHODS
Specimens from 108 adults were used to compare ExaVir Load HIV-1 RT to Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor HIV-1 RNA, and ExaVir Drug phenotype to HIV GenoSure genotype.


RESULTS
HIV-1 RT and HIV-1 RNA levels were comparable (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.83). Most (94%) had detectable results in both assays. The mean difference (HIV-1 RT minus HIV-1 RNA) was -0.21 log(10)cps/mLequiv. Relationship between HIV-1 RT and HIV-1 RNA was not affected by RT mutations, CD4 cell count, or efavirenz (EFV) or nevirapine (NVP) use. Phenotypes were generally consistent with genotype findings for EFV, but not for NVP. Most patients (93.9%) with phenotypic EFV resistance had at least one EFV mutation, while 78.0% of patients with phenotypic NVP resistance had at least one NVP mutation. Eleven of 49 samples tested for EFV susceptibility were found resistant (n=2) or with reduced susceptibility (n=9) despite the absence of genotypic resistance. Eleven of 45 samples tested for NVP susceptibility were found resistant (n=9) or with reduced susceptibility (n=2) with no evidence of genotypic mutations.


CONCLUSIONS
The ExaVir Load assay performed well and may be an alternative to amplification based techniques for HIV-1 RNA quantification. The ExaVir Drug assay for phenotypic resistance testing requires further evaluation, especially for NVP.
Napravnik
Sonia
S
Department of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
Cachafeiro
Ada
A
Stewart
Paul
P
Eron
Joseph J
JJ
Fiscus
Susan A
SA
D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D009154:Mutation; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010641:Phenotype; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019562:Viral Load / Q000379:methods
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; C514824:reverse transcriptase, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase