BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral drug resistance testing is recommended in HIV-1 infected patients failing therapy in order to inform treatment selection. Although guidelines and test manufacturers recommend a viral load of at least 500-1000 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL for genotypic resistance testing to be performed, prompt management of virological failure could benefit from testing at lower viral load levels. METHODS: Laboratories undertaking genotypic resistance testing were asked to provide figures for the number of resistance tests undertaken at viral loads <2000 copies/mL, the success rates of such tests and the extent of resistance detected, all stratified for viral load levels. RESULTS: Of the replies received, most laboratories were attempting resistance testing at viral loads below the recommended guidelines, with variable success and outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This audit of current practice in the UK for undertaking genotypic resistance tests at viral loads <1000 copies/mL highlights the widespread use of such testing outside the British HIV Association guidelines.
BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral drug resistance testing is recommended in HIV-1 infectedpatients failing therapy in order to inform treatment selection. Although guidelines and test manufacturers recommend a viral load of at least 500-1000 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL for genotypic resistance testing to be performed, prompt management of virological failure could benefit from testing at lower viral load levels. METHODS: Laboratories undertaking genotypic resistance testing were asked to provide figures for the number of resistance tests undertaken at viral loads <2000 copies/mL, the success rates of such tests and the extent of resistance detected, all stratified for viral load levels. RESULTS: Of the replies received, most laboratories were attempting resistance testing at viral loads below the recommended guidelines, with variable success and outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This audit of current practice in the UK for undertaking genotypic resistance tests at viral loads <1000 copies/mL highlights the widespread use of such testing outside the British HIV Association guidelines.
Authors: Ronald George Hauser; Ankur Bhargava; Cynthia A Brandt; Maggie Chartier; Marissa M Maier Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-07-01 Impact factor: 3.752
Authors: Andrea Arias; Pablo López; Raphael Sánchez; Yasuhiro Yamamura; Vanessa Rivera-Amill Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-08-09 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Sarah E Rutstein; Mina C Hosseinipour; Morris Weinberger; Stephanie B Wheeler; Andrea K Biddle; Carole L Wallis; Pachamuthu Balakrishnan; John W Mellors; Mariza Morgado; Shanmugam Saravanan; Srikanth Tripathy; Saran Vardhanabhuti; Joseph J Eron; William C Miller Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2016-06-13 Impact factor: 3.090