Suitable Specimen Types
- EDTA Whole Blood
Turnaround Time
14 daysSample Stability
Freshly drawn specimens (whole blood) may be held at 2 to 30°C for up to 6 hours prior to centrifugation. Plasma samles are stored for 2 years at -20°C.HIV 1 genotypic resistance testing (protease and reverse transcriptase region)
General Information
Genotypic HIV-1 resistance testing is the current recommended method for determining drug resistance in HIV infection. Genotypic resistance data provides information on the presence/absence of drug resistance mutations, which is used as a predictor of virological response to therapy. This aids clinical decisions regarding therapy changes. Choosing the most appropriate therapy regime improves patient management and reduces the cost of care.
The methodology for genotypic HIV-1 resistance testing involves extraction of RNA, reverse transcription of RNA to DNA in a one-step RT-PCR and nested PCR amplification, population sequencing and sequence analysis
Patient Preparation
For taking blood samples we recommend that users follow either their local protocols or “The Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures”.
Lavender top blood (EDTA) sample
- Sufficient blood for the test should be drawn into lavender topped (EDTA) vacuum tubes
- Invert tube 8–10 times.
Notes
HIV viral load samples with viral loads greater than 500 copies/ml are kept indefinitely so that retrospective resistance testing can be performed.
Specifications
- EQA Scheme?: Yes
- EQA Status: QCMD and HIV Antiviral Sequencing Panel- Sequencing group, PHE Colindale