Viral load assay sensitivity and low level viremia in HAART treated HIV patients.

Background: The recent introduction of highly sensitive viral load assays resulted in a significant increase in number of treated HIV-infected patients with a detectable viral load. The significance of a viral load between 20 and 50 copies/mL remains unclear.

Objectives: To compare the performance of three viral load assays, with special attention for specificity and sensitivity at the lowest level of quantification.

Effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy and development of drug resistance in HIV-1 infected patients in Mombasa, Kenya.

Access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is increasing in resource-limited settings (RLS) and can successfully reduce HIV-related morbidity and mortality. However, virologic failure and development of viral drug resistance can result in reduced treatment options and disease progression. Additionally, transmission of resistant virus, and particularly multi-drug resistance, could become a public health concern.

Evaluation of two commercially available alternatives for HIV-1 viral load testing in resource-limited settings.

There is an urgent need for low-cost assays for HIV-1 quantitation to ensure adequate follow-up of HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-limited countries. Two low-cost viral load assays are evaluated, a reverse transcriptase activity assay (ExavirLoad v2, Cavidi) and a real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assay (Generic HIV viral load, Biocentric). Both tests were compared with the ultrasensitive HIV Amplicor Monitor assay.