01849nas a2200265 4500008004100000022001400041245010200055210006900157260001600226300001100242490001600253520105900269653000801328653001901336653001101355653001501366653002201381653001501403100001801418700002001436700002301456700002001479700002401499856006001523 2010 eng d a1537-661300aLaboratory operations, specimen processing, and handling for viral load testing and surveillance.0 aLaboratory operations specimen processing and handling for viral c2010 Apr 15 aS27-360 v201 Suppl 13 a
RNA remains the most informative and accurate biomarker for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 load diagnostics and for surveillance of drug resistance markers. Viral load testing by nucleic acid amplification currently is a complex and expensive test that is restricted to centralized laboratory testing. Successful extension of centralized viral load testing to rural or remote settings is a major challenge. Emerging nucleic acid-based technologies are progressing rapidly toward platforms appropriate for field use in low-resource settings, leaving a growing gap for sample processing technologies that complement them. One area in which new technologies could be applied to improve access is clinical specimen preservation and processing. Novel technologies that extract nucleic acid from clinical specimens and stabilize it at the point of specimen collection could fill this gap. In addition, these technologies may provide alternative viral load detection and surveillance solutions to the current centralized laboratory testing paradigm.
10aHIV10aHIV Infections10aHumans10aRNA, Viral10aSpecimen Handling10aViral Load1 aPuren, Adrian1 aGerlach, Jay, L1 aWeigl, Bernhard, H1 aKelso, David, M1 aDomingo, Gonzalo, J uhttps://www.microfluidicsciences.com/drupal/?q=node/216