1st International Workshop on HIV Drug Resistance & Treatment Strategies


25-28 June 1997, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA


STABILITY OF HIV RNA IN BLOOD SPECIMENS

Antiviral Therapy 1997;2 (Suppl 5):33 (abstract no. 49)

Sally Land, Kim Sebire, Kate McGavin, Tracey Middleton and Chris Birch
State Reference Laboratory for HIV Isolation, VIDRL, Fairfield Hospital, Fairfield, 3078, Victoria, Australia

Quantification of HIV viral load (RNA) in the plasma of individuals infected with the virus has been shown to be a reliable indicator of disease progression and reflective of the response to antiviral therapy. Testing is usually not carried out at the site of specimen collection and therefore specimens may be subjected to different conditions prior to processing. We investigated several different conditions which could commonly occur in specimen handling, transit and storage, and which could influence the quantity of detectable HIV RNA. Tests were performed using the Roche Amplicor HIV Monitor Kit. Parameters examined included time to processing of blood and plasma; holding temperature of blood and plasma prior to processing; inter- and intra-assay variability; operator variability; the effect of freezing and thawing of plasma; and the use of different anticoagulants. In addition we tested for an initial drop in viral load within the first 6 h post-collection of blood. The relationship between RNA copy number and success of HIV isolation by PBMC co-culture was also examined. We found that, in general, the measurable amount of RNA was not substantially affected by the parameters tested. The RNA copy number was maintained in blood and plasma samples held at room temperature or 4°C for up to 3 days, and remained stable despite limited freezing and thawing of plasma. The ability to isolate HIV from PBMC was directly proportional to the RNA copy number. These results enable us to guide clinicians and laboratory staff as to the appropriate handling of specimens.

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1997-06-25
49

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