title: Improved Performance of COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan Version 2.0 Assay Over Amplicor Monitor Version 1.5 in the Quantification of HIV-1 RNA Viral Load in Abuja, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Improved viral detections by the real time PCR over the manual assays have been reported by various manufacturers. However, discrepancies and discordance between different platforms targeting the same pathogen have also been observed at different settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used an analytical study design to compare the performance of the Cobas Taqman /Cobas Ampliprep version 2.0 against the standard Amplicor Monitor 1.5 using 200 routine clinical samples, in Abuja- Nigeria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Taqman and Amplicor detected 118/200 (59%) and 83/200 (41.5%) samples respectively. Two of 83 samples (2.4%) undetectable by Cobas Taqman, were detectable by Roche Amplicor, while 5 of 37 samples (13.5%) which were undetectable by Amplicor using Taqman. Among the 81 detectable samples by both assays 4 samples (4.9%) had a log10 difference > 0.5 log copies, while 9 samples (11.1%) showed a wider discrepancy of >1 log10. Bland and Altman's comparison shows no significant difference between the two methods (p=0.2825) and CI-0.06171 to 0.2087.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed a remarkable improvement in the performance of COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan version 2.0 Assay over Amplicor Monitor version 1.5 in the quantification of HIV1 RNA viral load. Discrepancies of clinical significance, in the viral load between the two platforms were also recorded. The implications of the inability of the automated Taqman 2.0 to detect 2.4% of samples detectable by the Amplicor need to be considered by programs, clinicians and the manufacturers. Periodic evaluation of platforms to detect new circulating HIV subtypes within each locality is also recommended.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Maina Court, 252 Herbert Macaulay Way Central Business District Garki Abuja Nigeria. gabubakar@ihvnigeria.org.
authors.forename: Ado
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abubakar
authors.forename: Nicaise
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ndembi
authors.forename: Obinna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ogbanufe
authors.forename: Auchi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inalegwu
authors.forename: Simi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ebagua
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chime
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dakum
authors.forename: Alash'le G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Abimiku
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009549:Nigeria; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D019562:Viral Load / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic