Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1988. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE (SF) - THURSDAY July 7, 1988 Edition: FINAL Section: NEWS Page: A2 Word Count: 522
David Perlman, Chronicle Science Editor
The Cetus scientists, headed by Dr. John Sninsky, a molecular virologist, worked with a team from the national Centers for Disease Control to amplify tiny segments of genes and test for the human immune deficiency virus that causes AIDS. Their report on the amplification technique, termed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was published last January in the journal Science.
In its announcement yesterday, Cetus said the PCR technique has been licensed for use by two California laboratories - the Berkeley-based Pathology Institute and Specialty Laboratories Inc. in Santa Monica.
Physicians and other laboratories will be able to send blood samples to the licensed laboratories, which can perform the AIDS virus test in about five days. The cost will be about $145.
The test is not intended to replace the standard and widely used ELISA test, which detects antibodies to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome virus and indicates that infection has occurred.
In many cases, however, the AIDS virus does not trigger production of antibodies for six months or more after infection, while at other stages of infection the virus may be hidden inside the body. When the organism does not reproduce, it is often impossible to detect antibodies.
The Cetus technique, however, can amplify segments of viral DNA up to a million times in infected cells. It reveals the presence of the virus long before there is any other evidence of infection, according to Sninsky, who is chief of the company's department of infectious diseases.
The Emeryville biotechnology firm is working with the Eastman Kodak Co. to develop a complete HIV test kit based on the gene amplification technique and expects to seek approval for it from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration within 18 months, Sninsky said.
He is also collaborating with Dr. Steven Wolinsky of Northwestern University to apply the PCR technique in testing babies of high-risk mothers for possible infection by the AIDS virus.
Until they are about 18 months old, antibodies that are detected in infants come from the immune systems of their mothers, and the standard antibody test given to such youngsters may detect antibodies to the AIDS virus even though the baby is not infected.
By using the gene amplification technique, Sninsky explained, it would be possible to identify those babies who are likely to develop AIDS later, and to rule out those who may be carrying antibodies from their infected mothers but were lucky enough to be born free of infection and thus free of the threat of AIDS.
The patented molecular technique, perfected for AIDS testing earlier this year, was developed by Cetus scientists several years ago to amplify tiny segments of the genes inside viruses and bacteria, and even in fragments of human and animal cells.
The technique is already used in fields as varied as the anthropological study of human brains from ancient cultures and the identification of criminals by "DNA fingerprinting" of hair and semen samples.
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