title: The performance of reverse transcriptase assay for the estimation of the plasma viral load in HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections.
abstract: Viral load testing for human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) in resource-poor settings continues to be a challenge. Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) is being made available in developing countries, monitoring of viral load is not being done on a regular basis. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of Cavidi version 3.0, which measures the plasma reverse transcriptase (RT) activity and compare its performance with molecular HIV viral load assays. In all, 125 HIV-1 and 13 HIV-2 positive samples were analyzed. The overall sensitivity of the assay was 86.8% and 94.1% for viral load >1000 copies/ml measured by Qiagen Artus HIV-1 RG RT PCR and Abbott RealTime HIV-1 PCR assays, respectively. Compared with the routine molecular viral load assays, Cavidi version 3.0 is inexpensive, user-friendly, the expenditure on infrastructure is minimal, and it can be used for monitoring of both HIV types.
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Clinical Virology ;
authors.forename: Priyadarshini A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Padaki
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Clinical Virology ;
authors.forename: Jaiprasath
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sachithanandham
authors.affiliation: b Rural Unit for Health and Social Affairs (RUHSA) ;
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isaac
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Clinical Virology ;
authors.forename: Veena V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Ramalingam
authors.affiliation: c Internal Medicine ;
authors.forename: Ooriapadickal C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: d Dermatology and Venereology , Christian Medical College , Vellore , India.
authors.forename: Susanne A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pulimood
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Clinical Virology ;
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kannangai
mesh_terms: D004789:Enzyme Activation; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase / Q000097:blood*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D019562:Viral Load / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase
keywords: Cavidi; HIV; India; reverse transcriptase assay; viral load