Document 2665
 DOCN  M94A2665
 TI    Potential applications of an HIV-1 PCR procedure in a diagnostic testing
       laboratory algorithm--results of a prospective study.
 DT    9412
 AU    Fearon M; Galli R; Major C; Read S; Gomez P; Ontario Ministry of Health
       Laboratory, Toronto, Canada.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):252 (abstract no. PB0438). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369910
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential of the Roche Amplicor HIV-1 PCR kit
       for use as a supplemental laboratory procedure in a diagnostic testing
       algorithm. METHODS: Fresh whole blood specimens were collected in
       acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD) tubes from: 387 patients at risk for
       infection; 44 patients with previous indeterminate serology; and 42
       infants born to seropositive mothers. Lymphocyte pellets were prepared
       from each sample for PCR testing, according to established protocols,
       and remaining plasma portions were tested for HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies
       using a peptide EIA (Detect HIV, BioChem Pharma) and in-house Western
       Blot (WB). In addition, whole blood virus culture and p24Ag testing were
       carried out on selected specimens. RESULTS: Of the 387 specimens from
       patients at risk for HIV infection, specific HIV-1 DNA was detected by
       the Amplicor PCR kit in 69 specimens. Plasma fractions were reactive for
       HIV-1 antibodies on all 69 samples as well. The remaining 318 patients
       were negative for HIV antibodies, with no proviral DNA detected. Of the
       44 patients with previous indeterminate serology, 2 were positive by PCR
       and serology on the follow-up sample (ie. seroconversion), 1 of which
       was also culture positive. There was 100% concordance between PCR and
       culture for the 42 samples from infants born to seropositive mothers (11
       + by PCR and culture, 31 negative by both). CONCLUSIONS: There were no
       observed false positive or negative PCR results amongst the 473
       specimens in this study. The Amplicor PCR kit has potential for use as a
       supplemental test in a diagnostic testing algorithm to resolve
       indeterminate WB, to provide evidence of vertical transmission of HIV,
       and possibly for determination of early infection in seronegative
       high-risk individuals.
 DE    Adult  *Algorithms  AIDS Serodiagnosis/*METHODS  Blotting, Western
       Female  Human  HIV Seropositivity/*DIAGNOSIS/IMMUNOLOGY
       *HIV-1/IMMUNOLOGY  HIV-2/IMMUNOLOGY  Immunoenzyme Techniques  Infant,
       Newborn  Male  Polymerase Chain Reaction/*METHODS  Predictive Value of
       Tests  Pregnancy  Prospective Studies  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
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