Design and implementation of an external quality assessment program for HIV viral load measurements using dried blood spots

J Clin Microbiol. 2015 Mar;53(3):964-6. doi: 10.1128/JCM.02698-14. Epub 2014 Dec 17.

Abstract

An external quality assurance program was developed for HIV-1 RNA viral load measurements taken from dried blood spots using a reference panel and field-collected specimens. The program demonstrated that accurate and reproducible quantitation can be obtained from field-collected specimens. Residual proviral DNA may confound interpretation in virologically suppressed subjects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Blood / virology*
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Laboratory Proficiency Testing / methods*
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care / methods*
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Viral Load / standards*

Substances

  • RNA, Viral