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Comparison between a nucleic acid sequence-based amplification and branched DNA test for quantifying HIV RNA load in
C Berndt1, U Müller, F Bergmann
1Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353, Berlin, Germany. christoph.berndt@charite.de
Abstract:
HIV RNA was quantified in blood plasma from 209 patients and in control specimen comparing the NucliSens HIV-1 QT test (Organon Teknika), which is based on the nucleic acid sequence amplification procedure, and the Quantiplex 3.0 test (Bayer), which uses hybridization signal enhancement by branched DNA (bDNA) probes. A highly significant correlation (P=0.01) was found between the two methods with 88% of the samples showing similar results. In cases of discrepant findings, higher virus load was observed with either test (14xNASBA>bDNA; 12xbNDA>NASBA). Differences could neither be related to clinical features nor to divergent virus subtypes. Standard preparations containing 35000 and 222000 copies were quantified with intra-assay coefficients of variation of <20% using both methods. A preparation of 192 copies was measured with lower precision by both tests, yet was detected more reliably by the bDNA method.