COMPARATIVE-ASSESSMENT OF QUANTITATIVE HIV VIREMIA ASSAYS

Objective: To compare two published methods for determining plasma viraemia in HIV-seropositive patients, with reference to a cellular viraemia assay. Patients, participants: Three patient groups were defined according to CD4 cell count: group I, < 200 x 10(6)/1 (23 patients); group II, 200-500 x 10(6)/1 (18 patients); and group III, > 500 x 10(6)/1 (13 patients). Methods: The two reported methodologies were applied to ail fresh samples, simultaneously and on the same day. Results: The two techniques did not differ significantly in the detection of plasma viraemia: 82.3% of group I patients and 55% of group II patients were positive, while all group III patients were negative. Cellular viraemia was positive for 96% of the overall population. Conclusions: These results, obtained in a network of seven French laboratories involved in clinical trials, confirm that both plasma viraemia and cellular viraemia are useful virological markers.