Figure 5.
Purification of viral RNA from human blood. HIV viral like particles were spiked into heparinized human whole blood. RNA was extracted and purified using capillary method and RT-qPCR was performed to amplify the p24 capsid protein from the samples. A linear response was observed across the range of viral copy number (shown by R2 value), and a limit of detection of 4200 copies/mL was obtained using the current method which corresponds to 14 copies per extraction. Data represent the mean and the standard deviation of three to six experiments.