Abstract
The detection of HIVβ1 proviral DMA in children born to seropositive mothers was studied using the polymerase chain reaction with either a radioactive electrophoretic method or a novel procedure that employs colorimetric microwell visualization.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cell lysates from 18 HIVβ1 infected children and 28 uninfected subjects were assayed for a 142 bp fragment of DNA from the gag region of HIVβ1 using the primer pair SK145β431. Detection of amplified DNA was carried out by hybridization with a radiolabeled SK102 probe, or with a tagged SK102 probe permitting colorimetric detection.
The radioactive detection procedure demonstrated 100% specificity and correlated with the serological results. The assay was more sensitive than the p24 antigen test, but two false negative results were obtained. One was from a sample taken at 2 weeks, an age at which undeβtectable provirus levels were reported in almost all HIVβ1 infected newborns. The second was probably due to a low copy number of proviral DNA, as positive results were obtained in all other (6) samples from this child.
Comparative analysis in a limited number of specimens of radioactive and colorimetric detection following PCR revealed 100% specificity and comparable sensitivity with 4 discordant results.
The results show that PCR is the best method for early diagnosis of HIVβ1 infection in pediatric subjects. The study also demonstrated the value of a colorimetric detection method for PCR products. This colorimetric microwell plate procedure may prove a useful technique in routine diagnosis of HIVβ1 infection in children. Β© 1994 WileyβLiss, Inc.