. 2000 Nov;38(11):4034–4041. doi: 10.1128/jcm.38.11.4034-4041.2000

TABLE 4.

Characteristics of viral load assays

Assay	Sample vol (ml)	Quantitative limit^a		% of RNA values above upper limit of detection^b	No. of samples/run	Maximun no. of reportable results^c	Ease of execution	Costs of disposable items/reportable result (times^d)
Assay	Sample vol (ml)	Upper	Lower	% of RNA values above upper limit of detection^b	No. of samples/run	Maximun no. of reportable results^c	Ease of execution	Costs of disposable items/reportable result (times^d)
usCA MONITOR 1.5	0.5	75,000	50	16.9	12	30	Moderate	3.8
NucliSens	0.01–2.0	8,000,000	80	0.3	10	30	Less moderate^e	4.5
bDNA 3.0	1.0	500,000	50	0.9	96	84	Moderate	1

Copies per milliliter for usCA MONITOR 1.5 and bDNA 3.0; copies per input for NucliSens.

According to RNA levels obtained for 19,347 specimens tested between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2000 in the Canadian province of Quebec.

Per day for usCA MONITOR 1.5 and NucliSens and per 1.5 days for bDNA 3.0.

Relative to bDNA 3.0.

The detection procedure is the labor-intensive phase, as it necessitates numerous pipetting steps.