Document 2744
 DOCN  M94A2744
 TI    Virion HIV RNA in plasma does not appear to be platelet associated.
 DT    9412
 AU    Holodniy M; Mole L; Carroll R; Todd J; AIDS Research Center, VA Medical
       Center, Palo Alto, CA.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):234 (abstract no. PB0364). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369831
 AB    OBJECTIVES: To determine the relative amount of virion associated HIV
       RNA contained in plasma collected from different blood collection tube
       systems, and to ascertain the relative amount of plasma virion HIV RNA
       that is platelet associated in plasma. METHODS: Blood was collected from
       10 clinically stable HIV infected subjects across the HIV spectrum, and
       from 5 HIV sero-negative volunteers in standard ACD VACUTAINER and
       VACUTAINER PPT tubes. Plasma was then separated from whole blood using
       specific centrifugation parameters for each tube. Platelet counts were
       determined real time from EDTA whole blood as a control, and from each
       plasma sample using a Coulter counter. Plasma from each tube type was
       frozen at - 80 C until processed and then virion associated HIV RNA in
       plasma was quantitated using the Quantiplex HIV RNA assay. RESULTS: When
       compared to platelet counts obtained from EDTA anticoagulated whole
       blood, unclarified and clarified plasma from standard ACD VACUTAINER
       tubes and PPT tubes yielded platelet counts of 50%, 15% and < 2%
       respectively. Mean plasma RNA copy number/ml for standard ACD and PPT
       tubes were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Based on
       centrifugation and barrier separation, different vacutainer tube systems
       allow for profoundly different abilities to clarify plasma of platelets.
       Greater than 98.5% of platelets are eliminated from plasma by PPT tubes.
       Despite platelet removal, plasma from PPT tubes have an HIV RNA copy
       number comparable to plasma obtained from standard ACD tubes. Thus
       minimal virion RNA signal appears to be platelet associated using these
       separation and HIV detection techniques.
 DE    AIDS Serodiagnosis  Blood Platelets/*METABOLISM  Comparative Study
       Human  HIV/*GENETICS  HIV Infections/*BLOOD  Platelet Count  RNA,
       Viral/*BLOOD  Virion/*GENETICS  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).