NONRADIOACTIVE PCR METHOD FOR QUANTIFICATION OF HIV-INFECTED PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS IN HIV-POSITIVE SUBJECTS

A nested PCR method for quantification of HIV-infected peripheral bloo d mononuclear cells (PBMC) which does not use radioactivity nor plasmi ds is described. Quantification was achieved by means of limiting dilu tions and an ACH2 cell standard. The method was used to study 23 HIV-i nfected patients. A significant correlation was seen between the stage of HIV disease, as classified by CDC criteria, and the number of infe cted PBMC. Although the CD4+ cell count also correlated well with the stage of HIV disease, there was only weak correlation between the resu lt obtained by the PCR method and the CD4+ cell count.