Evolution in the sensitivity of quantitative HIV-1 viral load tests.
Significant advancements in molecular diagnostics have been made since the inception and application of PCR-based technologies in clinical diagnostic laboratories and the management of HIV-1 infected patients. More recently, real-time PCR has improved the overall performance of assays used for detecting and quantifying HIV-1 RNA viral load in patients undergoing antiretroviral treatment. The effects of these changes and the interpretations of the HIV-1 viral load results are discussed in this review in the context of the different assays used, the viral dynamics of the HIV-1 virus, and the recent changes to HIV-1 treatment guidelines.
Roche Molecular Systems, 4300 Hacienda Drive, Pleasanton, CA, USA. bryan.cobb@roche.com
Bryan R
BR
Cobb
Jeffrey E
JE
Vaks
Tri
T
Do
Regis A
RA
Vilchez
D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019562:Viral Load / Q000276:immunology* / Q000379:methods
D012367:RNA, Viral