TABLE 4.

Stability of HIV-1 RNA copies per milliliter detected in unseparated (whole) and separated (supernatant) cervical-vaginal lavage specimens processed at different times^a

Specimen no.	Specimen	No. of HIV-1 RNA copies/ml at the following times:
		0 h	3 h	6 h	24 h
1	Whole	42,000	60,000	15,000	31,000
2	Whole	3,600	1,700	1,700	1,500
3	Whole	14,000	8,500	6,000	5,400
4	Whole	3,800	100	100	100
5	Whole	25,000	33,000	21,000	9,600
1	SUP	5,600	11,000	4,600	4,100
2	SUP	1,800	2,000	1,200	940
3	SUP	3,200	3,500	2,400	1,600
4	SUP	100	100	100	100
5	SUP	100	100	100	100

^aSpecimens were stored at 4°C prior to processing (separation) and were tested by the Organon Teknika NASBA assay (23, 24). SUP, supernatant.