TABLE 2.
Relationship between reported HIV-1 RNA copy numbers in terminally diluted clinical specimens and specimen input volume
| Input vol (ml) | No. (%) of diluted and undiluted specimensa:
|
Mean copy no. for specimens at the indicated dilutionb
|
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below lower limit of detection | With HIV-1 RNA detected | Undiluted | Dilution 1 | Dilution 2 | Dilution 3 | Σ | |
| 0.1 | 29 (24) | 91 (76) | 28,040 | 3,810 | 1,001 | 413 | 33,264 |
| 0.5 | 21 (17) | 99 (83) | 130,193 | 15,193 | 2,478 | 1,017 | 149,601 |
| 1.0 | 7 (6) | 113 (94) | 221,509 | 30,441 | 4,976 | 1,501 | 479,936 |
a
Each of 10 specimens from HIV-1-infected individuals was tested undiluted and at three serial dilutions with the NASBA HIV-1 RNA QT system. Three tests were performed on the specimens at each dilution per input volume.
b
The dilution series for the clinical specimens were as follows. Five specimens were tested undiluted and at dilutions of 1:2, 1:5, and 1:10. Two specimens were tested undiluted and at dilutions of 1:5, 1:10, and 1:50. Three specimens were tested undiluted and at dilutions of 1:10, 1:100, and 1:10,000.