Some problems found in HIV-1 RNA quantification
- 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1, Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108–8639, Japan
- 2Department of Infectious Diseases and Applied Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assay of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA in plasma is now commercially available and is used widely for the assessment of antiretroviral treatments. The kit is called the AmplicorTM HIV-1 monitor test kit version 1.0 from Roche Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan). However, this system is not sensitive enough for the accurate measurement of genetic subtypes A and E, and it gives falsely low titres for these virus subtypes.1,2 To surmount this problem, additional gag primers (AG primers) have been provided by Roche for research use (Ver. 1.0 plus). Furthermore, a new improved version (Ver. 1.5) was developed recently, which is said to yield accurate results not only on subtype B but on subtypes A and E. With the Ver. 1.0 plus kit, adding the AG primer set from the Ver. 1.5 kit to the PCR master mixture containing the Ver. 1.0 primer set makes it possible to amplify even subtype A and E viruses. In the Ver. 1.5 kit, …
