Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2025
19:57
An Affordable HIV-1 Drug Resistance Monitoring Method for Resource Limited Settings
Published on: March 30, 2014
18.6K
A Concentration Method for HIV Drug Resistance Testing in Low-Level Viremia Samples
Qun Li1,2, Fengting Yu1,2, Chuan Song1,2,3
1Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Biomed Research International
|December 5, 2022
Summary
Lentivirus concentration reagent (LCR) combined with Sanger sequencing effectively monitors drug resistance mutations in HIV-1 low-level viremia samples. This method offers a viable alternative for laboratories lacking ultracentrifugation equipment.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Drug resistance testing in HIV-1 low-level viremia (LLV) is critical but challenging.
- Accurate monitoring of drug resistance mutations (DRMs) is essential for effective HIV-1 patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the performance of lentivirus concentration reagent (LCR) with Sanger sequencing for DRM monitoring in LLV samples.
- To compare LCR's efficacy against ultracentrifugation for genotypic resistance testing (GRT).
Main Methods:
- Clinical samples underwent GRT using LCR and Sanger sequencing.
- HIV-1 subtypes were determined using the COMET online tool.
- Genotyping success rates were compared between LCR and ultracentrifugation methods across various viral loads.
Main Results:
- LCR achieved overall genotyping success rates of 90% (PR/RT regions) and 60% (IN region).
- High success rates were maintained even at viral loads as low as 100 copies/ml for PR/RT regions.
- DRMs detected using LCR were consistent with undiluted samples.
Conclusions:
- LCR is a valuable tool for monitoring DRMs in HIV-1 LLV patients.
- LCR provides an effective, accessible alternative to ultracentrifugation for smaller laboratories.
- This approach supports improved HIV-1 treatment strategies.
