QUANTITATIVE COMPETITIVE RNA PCR FOR QUANTITATION OF VIRION-ASSOCIATED HIV-1 RNA

Quantitative competitive PGR is a highly sensitive technique that allo ws accurate quantitation of small amounts of RNA. We have modified the original method to include the use of an internal standard at all sta tes of sample analysis. In this way, the method can accommodate for va riations in the recovery of viral particles and in the isolation of ge nomic RNA as well as provide a suitable competitive substrate during q uantitative RNA PCR. We have used this method to characterize changes in virus load in plasma of HIV-1-seropositive individuals following th eir vaccination against opportunistic infections. (C) 1997 Academic Pr ess.