title: Multicenter assessment of HIV-1 RNA quantitation in semen in the CREAThE network.
abstract: Detection of HIV-1 RNA in semen is used commonly to determine the safety of semen processing procedures before assisted reproductive technology (ART). Using two panels of prepared semen samples containing HIV-1 the performances of protocols from 14 centers have been compared. No false-positive results were detected but false-negative results were frequent when the concentration was below 500 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml of seminal plasma. Frequency of HIV-1 RNA detection was higher on seminal cells than on seminal plasma. Assays (or protocols) for quantifying HIV-1 RNA in semen performed less well than standardized blood plasma assays. The HIV load in seminal plasma could be a useful marker of the risk of sexual transmission of the virus. Its use as a marker of global HAART efficiency in the HIV reservoir needs further study. Standardized assays are required for detection and measurement of HIV-1 RNA in semen samples.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, CHU de Toulouse, Institut Fédératif de Biologie; INSERM, U1043, Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, France. pasquier.c@chu-toulouse.fr
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasquier
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andreutti
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: Alionka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bostan
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bourlet
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Zehava
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Halfon
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leruez-Ville
authors.forename: Margrethe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lüneborg-Nielsen
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mar
authors.forename: Anne-Geneviève
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Marcelin
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roussel-Ronserail
authors.forename: Marie-Paule
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Sepehr
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tabrizi
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vourliotis
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bujan
mesh_terms: D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011786:Quality Control; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral