HIV-1 drug resistance surveillance using dried whole blood spots.

摘要: Background Field-friendly methods for HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) surveillance in resource-limited regions are urgently needed. Despite evidence that dried blood spots (DBS) suitable serology, viral load and CD4+ T-cell enumeration, no study has evaluated DBS HIVDR genotyping. We assessed the feasibility of genotyping HIV-1 from field-collected stored under challenging environmental conditions. Methods prospectively collected specimens newly diagnosed, treatment-naive HIV-positive subjects Mexico. Whole was spotted onto filter cards, air at ambient temperature with desiccant 37 degrees C 85% humidity 3 months. Genotypes obtained DBS-extracted nucleic acids using an in-house nested reverse transcription-PCR method were compared to genotypes derived matched plasma. Results 103 phylogenetically plasma compared. In total, 90.1% all could be amplified either region protease or transcriptase. Failure amplify did not correlate low loads. Between paired specimens, median nucleotide similarity 99.95%. nine mutations, differences between pairs partial discordances. Mutations identified found majority replicate amplifications. Conclusion The results suggest equivalent those a promising public health tool subjects, especially where might exposed severe conditions logistical difficulties prevent timely specimen processing. More studies needed validate patient monitoring.