Association between paired plasma and cervicovaginal lavage fluid HIV-1 RNA levels during 36 months.

Objective: To determine the patterns and predictors of genital tract HIV-1 RNA levels during a 36-month period.

Methods: HIV-1 RNA levels were measured blood in plasma and the genital tract (by cervicovaginal lavage [CVL]) at baseline before highly, active antiretroviral therapy, at 2 and 4 weeks and every 6 months. Viral loads were measured using nucleic acid sequence-based amplification assay with a lower limit of detection of 2.