title: Comparative evaluation of Aptima HIV-1 Qualitative RNA assay performance using plasma and serum specimens from persons with established HIV-1 infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood specimens for HIV testing are frequently collected using serum collection tubes. The Aptima HIV-1 RNA Qualitative test, originally approved for diagnostic use as a supplemental test for use with plasma, is now approved for use with serum, and may be used in new laboratory-based HIV testing algorithms which detect acute and established HIV infections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the sensitivity of Aptima using serum and plasma specimens from persons with established HIV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parallel serum and plasma specimens were collected from 325 persons with established HIV-1 infection who had positive immunoassay (IA) and Western blot (WB) results. Samples with negative Aptima results were considered false-negative and were subjected to repeat testing. Aptima sensitivity for serum and plasma was calculated relative to IA and WB, and compared using the McNemar test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity of Aptima using serum (97.23%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 94.81-98.73) was similar to that using plasma (97.54%, 95% [CI] 95.21-98.93) p=1.00. Five of ten specimens initially false-negative on either serum or plasma were reactive on repeat testing. No specimens initially classified as false-negative on both matrices were reactive on both matrices on repeat testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In specimens from persons with established infections, Aptima performed with similar sensitivity when used with serum or plasma. Using serum for immunoassay screening and supplemental testing may provide added convenience for laboratories.
authors: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. MS-E46, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. sfe1@cdc.gov
authors: Steven F
authors: SF
authors: Ethridge
authors: Laura G
authors: LG
authors: Wesolowski
authors: Muazzam
authors: M
authors: Nasrullah
authors: M Susan
authors: MS
authors: Kennedy
authors: Kevin P
authors: KP
authors: Delaney
authors: Debra
authors: D
authors: Candal
authors: S Michele
authors: SM
authors: Owen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010949:Plasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D044967:Serum / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral