Evaluation of serological assays for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing from dried blood spots collected from cohorts with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Dried blood spot (DBS) specimens are a useful serosurveillance tool particularly in hard-to-reach populations but their application for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection is poorly characterised.

Objectives: To compare detection of naturally acquired SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in paired DBS and serum specimens using commercially available serological immunoassays.

Study Design: Specimens were collected through St Vincent's Hospital observational post COVID-19 cohort study (ADAPT).

Evaluation of the Aptima HCV Quant Dx Assay for Hepatitis C Virus RNA Detection from Fingerstick Capillary Dried Blood Spot and Venepuncture-Collected Samples.

Background: Simplified diagnostic strategies are needed increase hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing to determine active infection and link people into treatment. Collection methods such as dried blood spots (DBS) have advantages over standard phlebotomy, especially within marginalized populations.

Methods: We evaluated the diagnostic performance of the Aptima HCV Quant assay for the quantification and detection of HCV RNA from paired DBS and venepuncture samples.

Evaluation of a hepatitis C virus core antigen assay from venepuncture and dried blood spot collected samples: A cohort study.

The global scale-up of hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis requires simplified and affordable HCV diagnostic pathways. This study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the HCV Architect core antigen (HCVcAg) assay for detection of active HCV infection in plasma and capillary whole blood dried blood spots (DBS) compared with HCV RNA testing in plasma (Abbott RealTime HCV Viral Load). Samples were collected from participants in an observational cohort enrolled at three sites in Australia (two-drug treatment and alcohol clinics and one homelessness service).

Possible clearance of transfusion-acquired /LTR-deleted attenuated HIV-1 infection by an elite controller with CCR5 Δ32 heterozygous and HLA-B57 genotype.

Background: Subject C135 is one of the members of the Sydney Blood Bank Cohort, infected in 1981 through transfusion with attenuated /3' long terminal repeat (LTR)-deleted HIV-1, and has maintained undetectable plasma viral load and steady CD4 cell count, in the absence of therapy. Uniquely, C135 combines five factors separately associated with control of viraemia: /LTR-deleted HIV-1, HLA-B57, HLA-DR13, heterozygous CCR5 Δ32 genotype and vigorous p24-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation. Therefore, we studied in detail viral burden and immunological responses in this individual.

Lack of correlation between three commercial platforms for the evaluation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viral load at the clinically critical lower limit of quantification.

Background: Concordance in plasma HIV-1 viral load quantification at the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) is crucial for current commercial assays.

Objective: To compare the performance of three commercial viral load assays and carry out a correlation study with the Roche Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 test, the Roche Cobas Amplicor HIV-1 MONITOR test, and the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay.

Study Design: Assay agreement was analyzed using linear regression and Bland-Altman plots.

Prevalence, incidence and risk factors for pharyngeal gonorrhoea in a community-based HIV-negative cohort of homosexual men in Sydney, Australia.

Background: Pharyngeal gonorrhoea is common in homosexual men and may be important in maintaining community prevalence of anogenital infections.

Methods: From 2003, all participants in the Health in Men cohort of HIV-negative homosexual men in Sydney were offered annual pharyngeal gonorrhoea screening by BD ProbeTec nucleic acid amplification (NAAT) assay with supplementary porA testing. Participants self-reported diagnoses of pharyngeal gonorrhoea made elsewhere between interviews.

Low positive predictive value of a nucleic acid amplification test for nongenital Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in homosexual men.

The diagnosis of nongenital Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection by the Becton Dickinson ProbeTec ET Chlamydia trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae Amplified DNA assay had low positive predictive value among an Australian community-based sample of homosexual men. Only 30.

High rates of sexually transmitted infections in HIV positive homosexual men: data from two community based cohorts.

Background/objectives: Higher levels of sexual risk behaviours have been reported in HIV positive than in HIV negative homosexual men. In clinic based studies, higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have also been reported. We compared rates of common STIs between HIV positive and HIV negative homosexual men from two ongoing community based cohort studies in Sydney, Australia.

Incidence immunoassay for distinguishing recent from established HIV-1 infection in therapy-naive populations.

Objective: To identify a specific marker of recent HIV-1 infection.

Design: The humoral immune response in individuals recently infected with HIV-1 was followed by analysing the antibody isotype-specific response generated to HIV-1 antigens in sequential samples collected during and following seroconversion.

Methods: Antibody isotype-specific HIV-1 Western blots were analysed to identify interactions indicative of recent HIV-1 infection.

Greater reversal of CD4+ cell abnormalities and viral load reduction after initiation of antiretroviral therapy with zidovudine, lamivudine, and nelfinavir before complete HIV type 1 seroconversion.

In a prospective open-label study, 41 male subjects received nelfinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine stratified as either: early stage (ES; negative/indeterminate Western blot; n = 19) or late stage (LS; positive Western blot; n = 22) primary HIV-1 infection. Despite higher median baseline HIV-1 RNA levels and lower CD4(+) cell numbers in the ES subjects, a significantly greater decline in viral load (-3.46 vs.