AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, June 13, 2005
Staff Medical Writers

According to recent research published in the Journal of Virological Methods, "A highly sensitive nested PCR was carried out in order to detect 2 LTR circles as a marker of recent and ongoing vital replication in HIV-1 infected patients with HIV plasma RNA undetectable.

"This 'in house' 2-step nested PCR is very sensitive, but it is not feasible for routine tests and presents a high risk of contamination."

"In order to reduce the time of reactions and crossover contamination, the possibility was explored to carry out a single step nested PCR, in which the two successive amplification rounds are carried out in the same tube.

"This single step nested PCR has the same sensitivity of the 2-step nested, is easy to conduct and requires a short time of reaction," reported E.A. Lusi and coworkers at the University of Rome la Sapienza.

"The two different PCR methods were compared and the clinical use of monitoring 2 LTR DNA circles in HIV-1 infected patients with undetectable plasma viral load is discussed," concluded the authors.

Lusi and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Virological Methods (1-step nested PCR for detection of 2 LTR circles in PBMCs of HIV-1 infected patients with no detectable plasma HIV RNA. J Virol Meth, 2005;125(1):11-13).

For additional information, contact E.A. Lusi, UO Epatol Clinical, Dipartimento Malattie Digestive Fegato & Nutrition, Azienda Osped San Camillo Forlanini, Via Portuense, I-00152 Rome, Italy.

The publisher's contact information for the Journal of Virological Methods is: Elsevier Science BV, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Keywords: Rome, Italy, 2 LTR Circles, Diagnostics, 1-Step Nested PCR, HIV-1 Replication.

This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports.

Reference

Lusi EA, Guarascio P, Presutti C, et al., One-step nested PCR for detection of 2 LTR circles in PBMCs of HIV-1 infected patients with no detectable plasma HIV RNA., J Virol Methods. 2005 Apr;125(1):11-3.

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