Use of plastic vacutainer tubes for quantification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in blood specimens

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Medical Device Evaluation

Background:

• Accurate quantification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viral load is crucial for patient management.
• The choice of sample collection tube material can potentially impact assay results.
• Evaluating alternative collection materials ensures continued access to reliable diagnostic tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare HIV-1 viral load measurements obtained from samples collected in plastic versus glass Vacutainer tubes.
• To assess the interchangeability of plastic and glass tubes for HIV-1 viral load testing using standard and ultrasensitive assays.

Main Methods:

• Paired blood samples were collected from participants.
• Samples were processed using both standard and ultrasensitive HIV-1 viral load assays.
• Viral load results from plastic tubes were statistically compared to those from glass tubes.

Main Results:

• A strong correlation was observed between viral load results from plastic and glass tubes (P < 0.0001).
• No significant differences were found that would preclude the use of plastic tubes.
• Both standard and ultrasensitive assays showed consistent results between tube types.

Conclusions:

• Plastic Vacutainer tubes are a suitable and reliable substitute for glass tubes in HIV-1 viral load testing.
• This finding supports the continued use of plastic tubes, potentially offering advantages in handling and safety.
• The study validates the use of plastic tubes across different assay sensitivities for HIV-1 monitoring.