ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC EFFICIENCY OF THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION BY COAMPLIFICATION OF MULTIPLE REGIONS OF HIV-1 AND HIV-2

A method for co-amplification of multiple viral sequences of HIV-1 and HIV-2 by polymerase chain reaction was designed. The technique result ed in the specific detection of each type of virus and allowed the amp lification of as few as two copies of target DNA. The amplification of multiple regions of the viral genome offers the advantage of detectin g multiple target sequences, which may be essential for some viruses, such as HIV, that exhibit a high degree of variability in their gene s equences. In addition, the method permitted the detection of both viru s types in the same reaction, allowing for greater utility in geograph ic areas where coinfections with both viruses occur and cross-reactivi ty in Western blots is observed. This method was applied successfully to the detection of viral DNA in clinical specimens.