title: Evaluation of non-centrifuged dried plasma spots versus centrifuged and non-centrifuged plasma for determination of HIV-1 viral load.
abstract: Accurate viral load measurement in plasma specimens is subject to the transport conditions applied since the stability of HIV-1 RNA can be at risk. Also, except during the primary infection, HIV is unlikely to be free in circulation because most patients produce specific antibodies in the weeks following primary infection. This study evaluated non centrifuged dried plasma spots versus centrifuged and non centrifuged plasma in the determination of HIV-1 viral load. A total of 40 patients infected with HIV were bled and three groups of samples were prepared from each patient. The first group was centrifuged at 1500×g for 20min, the second was not centrifuged but left to sediment by gravity for up to 3h, and the third was for dried plasma spots prepared from the same non centrifuged plasma. HIV RNA quantitation in plasma and dried plasma spots was evaluated by the Pearson correlation and a T-test. The three groups yielded average viral loads of 58,249; 83,355 and 116,963 copies/ml for centrifuged, non centrifuged and dried plasma spot samples respectively. The correlation for centrifuged versus non centrifuged was R(2)=0.78, that of centrifuged and dried plasma spots was R(2)=0.72 and finally R(2)=0.81 between non centrifuged and dried plasma spot samples. A significant difference in viral load results of centrifuged and DPS samples prepared from non centrifuged plasma was observed.
authors: Mildmay Uganda, P.O. Box 24985, Kampala, Uganda. shem.mwebaze@mildmay.or.ug
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Mwebaza
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Batamwita
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Karamagi
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Mugasa
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Namwanje
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Mujuzi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Nanteza
mesh_terms: D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D002498:Centrifugation; D059788:Dried Blood Spot Testing; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral