Application of branched DNA signal amplification to monitor human immunodeficiency virus type 1 burden in human plasma
Dewar RL., Highbarger HC., Sarmiento MD., Todd JA., Vasudevachari MB., Davey RT., Kovacs JA., Salzman NP., Lane HC., Urdea MS.
A branched DNA (bDNA)-based quantitation of plasma human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-I) RNA was used to monitor the virologic status of 102 patients (29-906 CD4 cells/mm3) enrolled in clinical trials of antiretroviral and immune-based therapies. Virion-associated RNA was measurable in plasma of74% of patients tested (10, 000-10, 000, 000 RNA equivalents/mL). Virus levels measured by the bDNA assay exceeded titers obtained by quantitative plasma culture and were inversely correlated (r = -.378; P