Laboratory Assays in the Clinical Management of Antiretroviral Therapy

  • Author: Mark Holodniy, MD (More Info)
  • Editors in Chief: Daniel R. Kuritzkes, MD; Joseph J. Eron, Jr., MD
  • Last Reviewed: 12/12/17 (What's New)

Summary

  • Viral load assays produce variable results; newer assays incorporating new PCR primers have improved correlation in viral load results, but discordance may still exist at the lower limit of detection[Swenson 2014; Braun 2007; Gueudin 2007; Holguin 2008; Xu 2008; Scott 2009; Wojewoda 2013; Taylor 2013; Karasi 2011; Wirden 2011; Paba 2011]
  • Although conventional assays and real-time PCR assays yield similar results, clinicians should be aware of quantitative differences in viral load among the technologies, particularly at the lower level of quantification[Yan 2010]
  • Viral load monitoring should be performed longitudinally with the same assay

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