Assessment of drug resistance mutations in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells at different plasma viral loads in patients receiving HAART.

Background: HIV drug resistance mutations both in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma have the ability to influence the outcome of highly active antiretroviral therapy for HIV patients. PBMCs harbor archival proviral DNA, are a major source of HIV and also underdo latent infection during suppressive HAART.

Objectives: The main objectives of this study were to assess whether specific viral load groups are better predictors of drug resistance and to examine the utility of PBMCs for drug resistance testing during HAART.