HIV Viral Load Estimation Using Hematocrit Corrected Dried Blood Spot Results on a BioMerieux NucliSENS® Platform

While reporting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load (VL) using dried blood spot (DBS) in the BioMerieux NucliSENS platform, application of the hematocrit correction factor has been suggested. In this cross-sectional study from the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory of Zimbabwe, we assessed whether hematocrit correction (individual and/or mean) in DBS results improved the correlation with plasma VL and prediction of VL non-suppression (≥1000 copies per ml in plasma). Of 517 specimens during August–December 2018, 65(12.6%) had non-suppressed plasma VL results. The hematocrit correction factor ranged from 1.3 to 2.0 with a mean of 1.6, standard deviation (SD: 1.5, 1.7). The intraclass correlation (ICC) for mean (0.859, 95% CI: 0.834, 0.880) and individual (0.809, 95% CI: 0.777, 0.837) hematocrit corrected DBS results were not significantly different. The uncorrected DBS results had a significantly lower ICC (0.640, 95% CI: 0.586, 0.688) when compared to corrected DBS results. There were no significant differences in validity, predictive values, and areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves for all three DBS results when predicting VL non-suppression. To conclude, hematocrit correction of DBS VL results improved agreement with the plasma results but did not improve prediction of VL non-suppression. The results were not significantly different for individual and mean corrected results.

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Field Suitability and Diagnostic Accuracy of the Biocentric Open Real-Time PCR Platform for Dried Blood Spot–Based HIV Viral Load Quantification in Eswatini

JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes ◽

10.1097/qai.0000000000002101 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 82 (1) ◽

pp. 96-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bernhard Kerschberger ◽

Nombuso Ntshalintshali ◽

Qhubekani Mpala ◽

Paola Andrea Díaz Uribe ◽

Gugu Maphalala ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Diagnostic Accuracy ◽

Real Time ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Dried Blood Spot ◽

Hiv Viral Load ◽

Viral Load Quantification ◽

Blood Spot

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Inadequate dried blood spot samples for Early Infant Diagnosis, how common and what are the reasons for rejection in Zimbabwe?

10.1101/502500 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Charles Chiku ◽

Maria Zolfo ◽

Mbazi Senkoro ◽

Mzwandile Mabhala ◽

Hannock Tweya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rejection Rate ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Dried Blood Spot ◽

Reference Laboratory ◽

Early Infant Diagnosis ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Early Infant ◽

Blood Spot ◽

Rejection Rates

Background: Early infant diagnosis (EID) of HIV in infants provides an opportunity for early detection of the infection and early access to Antiretroviral treatment (ART). Dried Blood Spot (DBS) samples are used for EID of HIV-exposed infants, born from HIV positive mothers. However, DBS rejection rates have been exceeding in Zimbabwe the target of less than 2% per month set by the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL). The aim of this study was to determine the DBS samples rejection rate, the reasons for rejection and the possible associations between rejection and level of health facility where the sample was collected. Methods: Analytic cross-sectional study using routine DBS samples data from the NMRL in Harare, Zimbabwe, between January and December 2017. Results: A total of 34.950 DBS samples were received at the NMRL. Of these, 1291(4%) were rejected and reasons for rejections were: insufficient specimen volume (72%), missing request form (11%), missing sample (6%), cross contamination (6%), mismatch information (4%) and clotted sample (1%). Samples collected from clinics/rural health facilities had five times likelihood to be rejected compared to those from a central hospital. Conclusion: Rejection rates were above the set target of 2%. The reasons for rejection were 'pre-analytical' errors including labeling errors, sample damage, missing or inconsistent data, and insufficient volume. Samples collected at primary healthcare facilities had higher rejection rates. Key words: Operational Research, SORT IT, Early Infant Diagnosis, Dried Blood Spot

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High Correlation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 Viral Load Measured in Dried-Blood Spot Samples and in Plasma under Different Storage Conditions

Archives of Medical Research ◽

10.1016/j.arcmed.2005.03.010 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 382-386 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Ma. Tereza Alvarez-Muñoz ◽

Silvia Zaragoza-Rodríguez ◽

Othón Rojas-Montes ◽

Gerardo Palacios-Saucedo ◽

Guillermo Vázquez-Rosales ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Viral Load ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽

Virus Type ◽

Storage Conditions ◽

Dried Blood Spot ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Blood Spot

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Intakes of Vitamin a and Zinc and Markers of Oxidative Stress in Newly Diagnosed HIV-positive Participants in the MASH Cohort in Miami (P24-016-19)

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzz044.p24-016-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Priscilla Clayton ◽

Adriana Campa ◽

Qingyun Liu ◽

Sabrina Martinez ◽

Leslie Seminario ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Mitochondrial Dna ◽

Viral Load ◽

Vitamin A ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Oxidized Glutathione ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Hiv Viral Load ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mitochondrial Dna Damage

Abstract Objectives HIV infection is characterized by increased oxidative stress. We examined the association of antioxidant intake with measures of oxidative stress and HIV disease progression in newly diagnosed HIV-infected participants. Methods Cross-sectional study of 52 newly-diagnosed HIV-positive participants in the MASH cohort. Blood was drawn for parameters of oxidative stress (oxidized glutathione % and oxidative mitochondrial DNA damage [8-oxo-dG]) and disease stage (CD4- cell counts; HIV-viral load). Questionnaires on demographics and 24-hour dietary recalls and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were administered. AUDIT scores ≥ 8 was considered hazardous drinking. Dietary intakes of vitamin A and Zinc were calculated. SPSS was used for analyses and Linear Regression Models were estimated. Results Participants were 74% male, 75% Black Non-Hispanic, and 21% Hispanics. Mean age was 42.3 ± SD10.2 years, CD4 count was 506.7 ± SD733.4 cells/µLA cross-sectional and HIV viral load was 3.63 ± SD1.23log10 copies/mL. Dietary intake of vitamin A (β = −0.001, SE = 0.0002, P = 0.044) and zinc (β = −0.0004, SE = 0.0002, P = 0.044) were inversely related with mitochondrial DNA damage (8-oxo-dG), after adjusting for education, race, age, gender, and excessive alcohol use. Oxidized glutathione percentage was directly associated with HIV-viral load (β = 0.81, SE = 0.4, P = 0.037) adjusting for age, gender, AUDIT ≥ 8 and BMI in linear regressions. Conclusions Lower intake of vitamin A and Zinc were associated with higher oxidative stress and higher HIV viral load. These findings suggest that antioxidant supplementation may be beneficial immediately after receiving a diagnosis of HIV infection as well as during antiretroviral treatment. Funding Sources Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute of Health.

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A real-world, cross sectional study of oral lesions and their association with CD4 cell counts and HIV viral load in Yunnan, China

Medicine ◽

10.1097/md.0000000000022416 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 99 (40) ◽

pp. e22416

Author(s):

Wen Shu ◽

Chengwen Li ◽

Fei Du ◽

Jinsong Bai ◽

Kaiwen Duan

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Real World ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Oral Lesions ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Hiv Viral Load ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Cd4 Cell Counts ◽

Cd4 Cell

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Cocaine Use, Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Among People Living with HIV in the MASH Cohort in Miami (P19-002-19)

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzz049.p19-002-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Alhanoof Alohaly ◽

Adriana Campa ◽

Leslie Seminario ◽

Marianna Baum

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Viral Load ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Antioxidant Defense System ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Oxidized Glutathione ◽

Hiv Viral Load ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cocaine Use ◽

Living With Hiv

Abstract Objectives HIV infection and cocaine use contribute to oxidative stress; persistent oxidative stress leads to rapid rates of glutathione (GSH) consumption. GSH is an abundant intracellular antioxidant and is synthesized from its precursor amino acids. HIV promotes changes in the components of the antioxidant defense system, resulting in GSH depletion and may cause DNA damage, and is associated with chronic inflammatory diseases. Therefore, the aim is to assess oxidative stress, and biomarkers of inflammation in HIV-infected individuals from the Miami Adult Studies on HIV (MASH) cohort, on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART), with controlled HIV viral load. Methods A cross-sectional study of participants in the MASH cohort in Miami. Participants were consented and blood was collected for C-reactive protein (CRP), oxidized glutathione and % of reduced to oxidized glutathione (GSH: GSSG). Anthropometrics included body fat measured by the bioimpedance analysis machine. Results Mean age was 54.6 ± 6.3 years, 67% were male, and 50% used cocaine, mean BMI was 26.2 ± 3.1, CRP was 7.1 ± 12.4, oxidized glutathione was 34.4 ± 32.4 mmol, and the ratio of GSH: GSSG 4.86 ± 4.7. All participants had undetected viral load and were mainly overweight (70%) with a mean fat% of 28.0 ± 7.1. Cocaine use was strongly related with CRP (r = 401, P = 0.014) and GSH: GSSG (r = −389, P = 0.017) ; BMI was lower with age (r = −0.502, P = 0.024); and fat contain was lower in males (r = −0.474, P = 0.004); males also had significantly higher oxidized glutathione (r = 0.384, P = 0.018); age was inversely correlated with BMI (r = −0.335, P = 0.027). A nutritional supplementation with antioxidants with a longitudinal follow-up of outcomes is in progress. Conclusions Our findings suggest that cocaine use is significantly associated with markers of inflammations and oxidative stress in people living with HIV who are already at risk for these conditions, and interventions with antioxidants and detoxification interventions are important for these participants. Funding Sources National Institute on Drug Abuse.

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Prevalence of viral load suppression, predictors of virological failure and patterns of HIV drug resistance after 12 and 48 months on first-line antiretroviral therapy: a national cross-sectional survey in Uganda

Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy ◽

10.1093/jac/dkz561 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 75 (5) ◽

pp. 1280-1289

Author(s):

Deogratius Ssemwanga ◽

Juliet Asio ◽

Christine Watera ◽

Maria Nannyonjo ◽

Faridah Nassolo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Resistance ◽

Viral Load ◽

Virological Failure ◽

Dried Blood Spots ◽

Viral Load Suppression ◽

First Line ◽

Hiv Viral Load ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Weighted Prevalence

Abstract Objectives We implemented the WHO cross-sectional survey protocol to determine rates of HIV viral load (VL) suppression (VLS), and weighted prevalence, predictors and patterns of acquired drug resistance (ADR) in individuals with virological failure (VF) defined as VL ≥1000 copies/mL. Methods We enrolled 547 and 1064 adult participants on first-line ART for 12 (±3) months (ADR12) and ≥48 months (ADR48), respectively. Dried blood spots and plasma specimens were collected for VL testing and genotyping among the VFs. Results VLS was 95.0% (95% CI 93.4%–96.5%) in the ADR12 group and 87.9% (95% CI 85.0%–90.9%) in the ADR48 group. The weighted prevalence of ADR was 96.1% (95% CI 72.9%–99.6%) in the ADR12 and 90.4% (95% CI 73.6–96.8%) in the ADR48 group, out of the 30 and 95 successful genotypes in the respective groups. Initiation on a zidovudine-based regimen compared with a tenofovir-based regimen was significantly associated with VF in the ADR48 group; adjusted OR (AOR) 1.96 (95% CI 1.13–3.39). Independent predictors of ADR in the ADR48 group were initiation on a zidovudine-based regimen compared with tenofovir-based regimens, AOR 3.16 (95% CI 1.34–7.46) and ART duration of ≥82 months compared with <82 months, AOR 1.92 (95% CI 1.03–3.59). Conclusions While good VLS was observed, the high prevalence of ADR among the VFs before they underwent the recommended three intensive adherence counselling (IAC) sessions followed by repeat VL testing implies that IAC prior to treatment switching may be of limited benefit in improving VLS.

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Dried Blood Spot Thyroglobulin as a Biomarker of Iodine Status in Pregnant Women

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism ◽

10.1210/jc.2016-2829 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 102 (1) ◽

pp. 23-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Sara Stinca ◽

Maria Andersson ◽

Sandra Weibel ◽

Isabelle Herter-Aeberli ◽

Ralph Fingerhut ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Reference Range ◽

Urinary Iodine ◽

Iodine Intake ◽

Dried Blood Spot ◽

Urinary Iodine Concentration ◽

Iodine Nutrition ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Iodine Status ◽

Blood Spot

Abstract Context: Thyroglobulin (Tg) could be a sensitive biomarker of iodine nutrition in pregnant women (PW). A dried blood spot (DBS) assay would simplify collection and transport in field studies. Objectives: Our aims were to (1) establish and test a reference range for DBS-Tg in PW; (2) determine whether co-measurement of Tg antibodies (Abs) is necessary to define population iodine status. Design, Setting, and Participants: Standardized cross-sectional studies of 3870 PW from 11 countries. For the DBS-Tg reference range, we included TgAb-negative PW (n = 599) from 3 countries with sufficient iodine intake. Main Outcome Measures: We measured the urinary iodine concentration and DBS thyroid-stimulating hormone, total thyroxin, Tg, and TgAb. Results: In the reference population, the median DBS-Tg was 9.2 μg/L (95% confidence interval, 8.7 to 9.8 μg/L) and was not significantly different among trimesters. The reference range was 0.3 to 43.5 μg/L. Over a range of iodine intake, the Tg concentrations were U-shaped. Within countries, the median DBS-Tg and the presence of elevated DBS-Tg did not differ significantly between all PW and PW who were TgAb-negative. Conclusions: A median DBS-Tg of ∼10 μg/L with <3% of values ≥44 μg/L indicated population iodine sufficiency. Concurrent measurement of TgAb did not appear necessary to assess the population iodine status.

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