TABLE 3.

Quantification of a known amount of HIV-1 RNA subtype A in pooled CVS lavage fluids and plasma samples from HIV-negative women spiked with a known amount of HIV-1 subtype A reference control by HIV-1 RNA real-time RT-PCR using a Light Cycler apparatus^a

Expected result (log10 copies)b	Cervicovaginal secretion		Plasma
	Observed result (log10 copies)	Δlog10	Observed result (log10 copies)	Δlog10
6.00	5.96	0.04	5.77	0.23
5.00	5.15	−0.15	4.80	0.20
4.00	4.21	−0.21	3.91	0.09
3.00	3.15	−0.15	2.83	0.17
2.70	2.82	−0.12	2.70	0.00
2.40	2.45	−0.05	2.36	0.04
2.10	2.20	−0.10	2.04	0.06
1.80	1.53	0.27	1.70	0.10
Mean		−0.06		0.11

^aΔlog₁₀ is the difference between expected log₁₀ values and observed log₁₀ values obtained with a real-time RT-PCR assay.

^bHIV-1 RNA subtype A at 10⁹ copies/ml was obtained from the Viral Diagnostic Quality Control Programme, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.