ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory
| 0020466: Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 RNA Quantitative bDNA |
| Test Mnemonic: HIV BDNA | |
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Methodology: Branched Chain DNA
Performed: Wed, Sat Reported: 2-5 days |
| Specimen Required: | |
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Collect: One 7 mL lavender (EDTA), pink (K2EDTA), or two 5 mL PPT.
Transport: 3 mL plasma, frozen. (Min: 2.5 mL) Submit specimen in an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. Specimens collected in a PPT may be submitted in the original container. Submit specimen according to Biological Substance, Category B, shipping guidelines. Pediatric Collection/Transport: 1.5 mL plasma, frozen. Submit specimen according to Biological Substance, Category B, shipping guidelines. Remarks: CRITICAL FROZEN. Separate specimens must be submitted when multiple tests are ordered. Separate plasma from cells within two hours. Unacceptable Conditions: Serum. Polystyrene tubes. Heparinized or nonfrozen specimens. Specimens exposed to repeated freeze/thaw cycles. Stability: Ambient: 2 hours (plasma on cells); Plasma removed from cells within two hours can be refrigerated and frozen as follows: Refrigerated: 12 hours; Frozen (-20°C): 3 days; Frozen (-70°C): 4 months |
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| Reference Interval: |
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Less than 75 HIV RNA copies/mL Less than 1.9 HIV RNA log copies/mL |
| Interpretive Data: | |
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Assay methodology is branched DNA as performed using the FDA approved VERSANT® HIV-1 RNA 3.0 Assay (bDNA). This is a signal-amplification nucleic acid probe for the direct quantification of HIV-1 in the plasma of HIV-1 infected individuals. The test is intended for use in conjunction with clinical presentation and other laboratory markers as an indicator of disease prognosis. This test is also used as an aid in assessing viral response to antiretroviral treatment as measured by changes in plasma HIV-1 RNA levels. The analytic measurement range of this assay is 1.9-5.7 log copies/mL (75 to 500,000 copies/mL). The clinical significance of changes in HIV-1 RNA measurements has not been fully established; however, a threefold change (0.5 log) in copies/mL may be significant. Specificity of the assay has been determined by the manufacturer to be greater than 97%. Low positive values may occasionally be seen in samples from patients who are HIV-1 seronegative or whose HIV-1 viral load is actually below the threshold of assay detection (75 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL). Caution should be taken in the interpretation of any single viral load determination. A result of less than 75 HIV copies/mL does not rule out the presence of inhibitors in the patient specimen or HIV-1 virus RNA concentrations below the limit of detection by the assay. This assay should not be used for blood donor screening, associated re-entry protocols, or for screening Human Cell, Tissues and Cellular Tissue-Based Products (HCT/P). |
| CPT Code(s): | |
| 87536 |