Test ID: HIVQR
HIV-1 RNA Quantification with Reflex to HIV-1 Genotypic Drug Resistance Mutation Analysis, Plasma
Secondary ID 
A test code used for billing and in test definitions created prior to November 2011
NY State Approved Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Quantifying plasma HIV-1 RNA levels (viral load) in HIV-1-infected patients, followed by genotypic determination of viral resistance to anti-HIV drugs
Guiding initiation or change of anti-HIV treatment regimens
Reflex Tests Lists test(s) that may or may not be performed, at an additional charge, depending on the result and interpretation of the initial test(s)
| Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
|---|---|---|---|
| GHIV | HIV-1 Genotypic Drug Resistance, P | Yes | No |
Testing Algorithm Delineates situation(s) when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.
If HIV-1 RNA titer is > or =1,000 copies/mL, then HIV-1 genotypic drug resistance mutations will be determined at an additional charge.
See HIV Treatment Monitoring Algorithm in Special Instructions.
Special Instructions and Forms Describes specimen collection and preparation information, test algorithms, and other information pertinent to test. Also includes pertinent information and consent forms to be used when requesting a particular test
Method Name A short description of the method used to perform the test
HIVQR/13035: Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
(PCR is utilized pursuant to a license agreement with Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.)
Reporting Name A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Amplicor Access Program
HIV Monitor Test, RT-PCR
HIV-1 PCR
HIV-1 Quantitation, PCR
HIV-1 RNA, Viral Load
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, PCR
Viral Load, HIV-1 RNA
HIV-1 Genotype
33190-HIVQR
Specimen Type Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Collection Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Spin down and remove plasma from cells within 6 hours of draw.
2. Freeze plasma specimen immediately, and ship specimen frozen on dry ice.
3. If shipment will be delayed for >24 hours, freeze plasma specimen at -70 degrees C (up to 35 days) until shipment on dry ice.
Additional Information:
This test can be used for detection and diagnosis of HIV-1 infections, including in children <18 months of age when serologic tests are not useful (due to presence of maternal HIV antibodies).
Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | Mild OK; Gross OK |
| Lipemia | Mild OK; Gross OK |
| Icterus | NA |
| Other | Green top (heparin) tube |
Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Plasma EDTA | Frozen (preferred) | |
| Refrigerated | 24 hours | |
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
HIV is an RNA virus that infects human host cells and is then converted to complementary DNA (cDNA) by the action of viral reverse transcriptase. HIV is the causative agent of AIDS, a severe, life-threatening condition.
Currently, there are 2 types of HIV; HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV type 2 (HIV-2). HIV-1 has been isolated from patients with AIDS, AIDS-related complex, and asymptomatic infected individuals at high-risk for AIDS. Accounting for >99% of HIV infection in the world, HIV-1 is transmitted by sexual contact, by exposure to infected blood or blood products, from an infected pregnant woman to fetus in utero or during birth, or from an infected mother to infant via breast feeding. HIV-2 has been isolated from infected patients in West Africa and it appears to be endemic only in that region. However, HIV-2 also has been identified in individuals who have lived in West Africa or had sexual relations with individuals from that geographic region. HIV-2 is similar to HIV-1 in its morphology, overall genomic structure, and ability to cause AIDS.
Multiple clinical studies of plasma HIV-1 viral load (expressed as HIV-1 RNA copies/mL of plasma) have shown a clear relationship of HIV-1 RNA copy number to stage of HIV-1 disease and efficacy of anti-HIV-1 therapy. Quantitative HIV-1 RNA level in plasma (ie, HIV-1 viral load) is an important surrogate marker in assessing the risk of disease progression and monitoring response to anti-HIV-1 drug therapy in the routine medical care of HIV-1-infected patients.
Studies have identified a number of mutations associated with antiviral resistance. Genotypic analysis allows identification of nucleotide changes associated with HIV drug resistance. When combination therapy fails, genotyping for drug resistance mutations may help direct appropriate changes in antiretroviral therapy and may result in at least a short-term benefit, as evidenced by viral load reduction.
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
Undetected
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
HIV-1 quantification:
-This assay has a plasma HIV-1 RNA quantification result range from 20 to 10,000,000 copies/mL (1.30-7.00 log copies/mL).
-An "Undetected" result indicates that the assay was unable to detect HIV-1 RNA within the plasma specimen.
-A "Detected" result with the comment, "HIV-1 RNA level is <20 copies/mL (<1.30 log copies/mL). This assay cannot accurately quantify HIV-1 RNA below this level" indicates that HIV-1 RNA is detected, but the level present is less than the lower quantification limit of this assay.
-A "Detected" result with the comment, "HIV-1 RNA level is >10,000,000 copies/mL (>7.00 log copies/mL). This assay cannot accurately quantify HIV-1 RNA above this level" indicates that HIV-1 RNA is detected, but the level present is above the upper quantification limit of this assay.
Due to the increased sensitivity of this assay, patients with previously low or undetectable HIV-1 viral load may show increased or detectable viral load with this assay. However, the clinical implications of a viral load below 50 copies/mL remain unclear. Possible causes of such a result include very low plasma HIV-1 viral load present (eg, in the range of 1-19 copies/mL), very early HIV-1 infection (ie, <3 weeks from time of infection), or absence of HIV-1 infection (ie, false positive).
For the purpose of patient monitoring, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents defines virologic failure as a confirmed viral load of >200 copies/mL, which eliminates most cases of viremia resulting from isolated blips or assay variability. Confirmed viral load rebound (ie, >200 copies/mL) on 2 separate tests obtained at least 2 to 4 weeks apart should prompt a careful evaluation of patient's tolerance of current drug therapy, drug-to-drug interactions, and patient adherence.
If the viral load is > or =1,000 copies/mL, genotypic anti-HIV-1 drug resistance mutation analysis is performed automatically at an additional charge. Sequence data of the patient's viral strain is compared with those in a database of known drug resistance mutations. Results are provided that highlight those codon changes associated with specific drug resistance. These mutations are categorized and reported.
Genotypic drug resistance:
-"Susceptible" indicates that the genotypic mutations present in patient's HIV-1 strain have not been associated with resistance to the specific drug in question.
-"Resistant" indicates that genotypic mutations (see specific list in corresponding result comment) detected have been associated with maximum reduction in susceptibility to the specific drug.
-"Possibly resistant" indicates that genotypic mutations detected have been associated with 1 or both of the following outcomes:
- Diminished virologic response in some, but not all, patients having virus with these mutations
- Intermediate decrease in susceptibility of the virus to the specific drug
-"Insufficient evidence" indicates that there is inadequate direct or indirect evidence to determine susceptibility of the virus to the specific drug on the basis of the genotypic mutations present, according to the opinion of the consensus panel of leading experts in the field of HIV resistance.
-"Unable to genotype" indicates that the sequence data obtained are of poor quality to determine the presence or absence of genotypic resistant mutations in the patient's HIV strain. Possible causes of such poor sequence data include low HIV viral load (<1,000 copies/mL) and polymorphism in the region of the sequencing primers interfering with primer binding and subsequent sequencing reaction.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
This test is not licensed by the FDA as a screening test for HIV-1 infections in a postexposure setting. Although this quantitative HIV-1 RNA test is not FDA approved for diagnostic purposes, the United States Working Group on Antiretroviral Therapy and Medical Management of HIV-Infected Children recommends the use of molecular-based assays to detect HIV-1 RNA or proviral DNA for the diagnosis of HIV infection in infants of <18 months of age and born to HIV-infected mothers.
A single HIV-1 viral load test result should not be used as the sole criterion in guiding therapeutic decisions and intervention in the clinical care of HIV-1-infected patients. Viral load results should be correlated with patient symptoms, clinical presentation, and CD4 cell count. Due to the inherent variability in the assay, physiologic variation and concurrent illnesses in the infected patients, <100-fold (<2 log) changes in plasma HIV-1 viral load should not be considered to be significant changes.
Viral load results of <20 copies/mL do not necessarily indicate absence of HIV-1 viral replication. Inhibitory substances may be present in the plasma specimen, leading to negative or falsely low HIV-1 RNA results. Improper specimen collection or storage may lead to negative or falsely lower plasma viral load results.
Although this commercial HIV-1 viral load assay is optimized for quantification of plasma viral load in HIV-1 infection due to HIV-1 groups M (subtypes A to H) and O strains, results generated from HIV-1 group O strains may be discordant (> or =0.5 log copies/mL) with those obtained from other commercially available HIV-1 viral load assays. The assay is not reliable for quantifying plasma viral loads in infection caused by HIV-1 group N and HIV-2 strains.
ACD plasma specimens are not optimal for HIV-1 viral load testing because such plasma specimens show quantitative HIV-1 RNA levels that are approximately 15% lower than those collected in tubes containing EDTA.
Supportive Data
This quantitative assay was confirmed to have a lower limit of quantification of 20 copies/mL based on probit analysis (95% hit rate), with good correlation with expected viral load results and good linearity over the quantification range of the assay. Accuracy of results among HIV-1 groups M and O strains was confirmed.
The mean difference in HIV-1 viral load results between version 1.0 and version 2.0 of this commercial assay was -0.05 log copies/mL, with 96.6% (56 of 58 specimens with quantifiable results by both assays) of the differences falling within 0.51 log copies/mL of the mean difference and individual differences ranging from 0.57 to -0.69 log copies/mL. No bias was observed over the range of HIV-1 RNA levels tested.
Our clinical microbiology laboratory has employed HIV-1 genotyping using TruGene since May 1, 2001. From May to November 2001, we performed 337 HIV-1 genotyping tests and documented a 16% failure rate of HIV-1 genotyping during routine clinical use. Specimens with low delta values/poor resolution on first-time sequencing were tested using the Roche Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor assay prior to repeat genotyping. Specimens demonstrating viral load results of <1,000 copies/mL (c/mL) were reported as "unable to genotype." All other specimens underwent repeat genotyping. Specimens with viral load results of 1,000 to 10,000 c/mL were concentrated during re-extraction prior to retesting. Of these, 30 specimens had a HIV-1 viral load < or =1,000 c/mL. For specimens containing >1,000 c/mL, the success rate upon first-time testing was 246/307 (80%); the success rate following repeat testing was 277/307 (90%). The success rates, as correlated with viral load ranges, were as follows: <1,000 c/mL, 6/30 (20%); 1,000 to 4,000 c/mL, 41/51 (80%); 4,001 to 10,000 c/mL, 33/38 (87%); 10,001 to 50,000 c/mL, 74/79 (94%); 50,001 to100,000 c/mL, 59/62 (95%); >100,000 c/mL, 70/77 (91%). Higher genotyping failure rates were seen with specimens containing 1,000 to 10,000 c/mL, versus specimens containing >10,001 c/mL (P=0.01) HIV-1 RNA. Our clients have been advised that the HIV-1 viral load must be > or =1,000 copies/mL (c/mL) HIV-1 genotyping to be successful.
Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
Hirsch MS, Brun-Vezinet F, D'Aquila RT, et al: Antiretroviral drug resistance testing in adult HIV-1 infection: recommendations of an Internal AIDS Society-USA Panel. JAMA 2000 May;283(18):2417-2426
Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
For Detection and Quantification:
COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 Test, version 2.0, is an in vitro nucleic acid amplification test for the quantification of HIV-1 RNA in human plasma, using the COBAS AmpliPrep instrument for automated viral nucleic acid extraction (generic silica-based capture technique) and the COBAS TaqMan analyzer for automated amplification and detection of the viral nucleic acid target. To accommodate the polymorphism within the HIV-1 genomic target sequence, this assay employs multiple PCR primers for 2 target sequences (HIV-1 gag and LTR regions). The HIV-1 Quantitation Standards is used to detect and compensate for possible PCR inhibition and as a control for target amplification and detection processes. Dual-labeled fluorescent oligonucleotide probes are utilized to detect amplified material. Quantification of target sequences is monitored using the emission intensity of fluorescent reporter dyes released during the amplification process.(Package insert: COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 Test, version 2.0, Roche Molecular Systems Inc., Branchburg, NJ, 6/2010)
For Genotypic Resistance Analysis:
HIV-1 genotyping is performed using the TruGene HIV-1 assay, which determines the nucleotide bases by simultaneous bidirectional sequencing (1.9 kb total) of the viral reverse transcriptase (1,600 nucleotide) and protease (300 nucleotide) genes of HIV-1 in a blood specimen and identifies any mutations. An automated DNA sequencing system (OpenGene computer software) compares the specimen genotype to the known resistance mutations and generates a list of the mutations present and the antiviral drugs to which the mutations confer resistance.(Package insert: TruGene HIV-1 Genotyping Assay, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
HIV-1 quantification: Monday through Saturday; 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
HIV-1 genotyping: varies; test will be performed in batches of 4.
Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
87536 - HIV-1, quantification
87901 - HIV-1 genotypic drug resistance (if appropriate)
LOINC® Code Information Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| 81958 | HIV-1 RNA Quantification, P | 20447-9 |
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