Improving diagnostic capability for HPV disease internationally within the NIH-NIAID Division of AIDS Clinical Trial Networks.

Objectives: To evaluate an external quality assurance (EQA) program for the laboratory diagnosis of human papillomavirus (HPV) disease that was established to improve international research capability within the Division of AIDS at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease-supported Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group network.

Methods: A three-component EQA scheme was devised comprising assessments of diagnostic accuracy of cytotechnologists and pathologists using available EQA panels, review of quality and accuracy of clinical slides from local sites by an outside expert, and HPV DNA detection using a commercially available HPV test kit.

Results: Seven laboratories and 17 pathologists in Africa, India, and South America participated.

Feasibility of an antiviral clinical trial requiring cross-country shipment of conjunctival adenovirus cultures and recovery of infectious virus.

Purpose: Accurate and timely laboratory diagnosis of adenovirus from conjunctival cultures is essential to ensure appropriate enrollment, and detection of residual infectious virus is essential to evaluate antiviral efficacy in any multicenter national clinical trial. As part of a feasibility study, we investigated those variables that might affect the successful recovery of infectious adenovirus from patient conjunctival cultures after cross-country shipment.

Materials And Methods: Simulated adenovirus conjunctival cultures were prepared in viral transport media to evaluate the effect of four variables (adenovirus serotype, initial concentration, initial storage temperature [-20 degrees C, 0 degrees C, 20 degrees C], and preshipment storage times [1-5 days]) on the recovery of infectious adenovirus by a central laboratory in St.

Acyclovir-resistant genital herpes among persons attending sexually transmitted disease and human immunodeficiency virus clinics.

Background: Genital herpes is epidemic in the United States; long-term acyclovir therapy is common; and long-term use of antimicrobials in suppressive doses favors development of resistance.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for acyclovir-resistant genital herpes.

Methods: We identified and attempted to enroll all patients 18 years or older with suspected genital herpes who attended 22 sexually transmitted disease and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinics in the United States between October 1996 and April 1998.