title: Measuring human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA loads in dried blood spot specimens using NucliSENS EasyQ HIV-1 v2.0.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV-1 RNA plasma level is a key parameter for anti-viral treatment monitoring in HIV-1 infected individuals. Plasma stability and accurate measurement of clinical state is at risk when transporting from remote areas. Dried blood spot (DBS) testing can reduce this risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Determine the performance of NucliSENS EasyQ HIV-1 v2.0 for DBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 HIV-1 negative, and 129 HIV-1 spiked blood specimens (2180 copies/ml) were used for diagnostic specificity and system robustness. Analytical performance was tested in the range 50-85,000,000 copies/ml. Clinical reactivity was measured with specimens obtained from 224 HIV-1 infected individuals. HIV-1 RNA stability was analyzed after applying several different storage conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diagnostic specificity was 100% and system robustness was demonstrated by 100% detection rate without invalids. Limit of detection (95% detection rate) was 800 copies/ml. Linear results were obtained over the whole range tested. For clinical specimens, percentage positive results were comparable for DBS (57%) and plasma (58%). DBS quantification was on average 0.36log10 lower as compared to plasma. Specimen stability was demonstrated for 1 week at 55 degrees C/60% humidity, 3 weeks at 37 degrees C/80% humidity, 9 weeks at 37 degrees C/40% humidity, 3 months at -20 degrees C/70% humidity, 3 weeks at 4 degrees C/100% humidity, 9 months at room temperature (15-30 degrees C), and 9 weeks shipment simulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results obtained fully support the use of DBS for the NucliSENS EasyQ HIV-1 v2.0 assay. These findings are especially of importance in cases that plasma stability is currently at risk due to for example, long transport routes from remote areas under less controlled conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of R&D Molecular Diagnostics, bioMérieux bv, Boseind 15, 5280 AB Boxtel, The Netherlands. peter.vandeursen@live.nl
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Deursen
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oosterlaken
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andre
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verhoeven
authors.forename: Lieke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertens
authors.forename: Mary Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Trabaud
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ligeon
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Jong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology*; D003890:Desiccation; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D021161:Self-Sustained Sequence Replication / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral