Detection of Recent HIV-1 Infection Using a New Limiting-Antigen Avidity Assay: Potential for HIV-1 Incidence Estimates and Avidity Maturation Studies

Details

• Alternative Title:
  PLoS One
• Personal Author:
  Duong, Yen T. ; Qiu, Maofeng ; De, Anindya K. ; Jackson, Keisha ; Dobbs, Trudy ; Kim, Andrea A. ; Nkengasong, John N. ; Parekh, Bharat S.
• Description:
  Background
  
  Accurate and reliable laboratory methods are needed for estimation of HIV-1 incidence to identify the high-risk populations and target and monitor prevention efforts. We previously described a single-well limiting-antigen avidity enzyme immunoassay (LAg-Avidity EIA) to detect recent HIV-1 infection.
  
  Methods
  
  We describe here further optimization and characterization of LAg-Avidity EIA, comparing it to the BED assay and a two-well avidity-index (AI) EIA. Specimen sets included longitudinal sera (n = 393), collected from 89 seroconverting individuals from 4 cohorts representing 4 HIV-1 subtypes, and sera from AIDS patients (n = 488) with or without TB co-infections from 3 different cohorts. Ninety seven HIV-1 positive specimens were purchased commercially. The BED assay, LAg-Avidity EIA, AI-EIA and HIV serology were performed, as needed.
  
  Results
  
  Monitoring quality control specimens indicated high reproducibility of the LAg-Avidity EIA with coefficient of variation of <10% in the dynamic range. The LAg-Avidity EIA has an overall mean duration of recency (ω) of 141 days (95% CI 119–160) at normalized optical density (ODn) cutoff of 1.0, with similar ω in different HIV-1 subtypes and populations (132 to 143 days). Antibody avidity kinetics were similar among individuals and subtypes by both the LAg-Avidity EIA and AI-EIA compared to the HIV-IgG levels measured by the BED assay. The false recent rate among individuals with AIDS was 0.2% with the LAg-Avidity EIA, compared to 2.9% with the BED assay. Western blot profiles of specimens with increasing avidity confirm accurate detection of recent HIV-1 infections.
  
  Conclusions
  
  These data demonstrate that the LAg-Avidity EIA is a promising assay with consistent ω in different populations and subtypes. The assay should be very useful for 1) estimating HIV-1 incidence in cross-sectional specimens as part of HIV surveillance, 2) identifying risk factors for recent infections, 3) measuring impact of prevention programs, and 4) studying avidity maturation during vaccine trials.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Antibody Affinity HIV-1 HIV Antibodies HIV Antigens HIV Infections HIV Seropositivity Humans Immunoenzyme Techniques Longitudinal Studies Reproducibility Of Results Sensitivity And Specificity Viral Load

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• Source:
  PLoS One. 2012; 7(3).
• Pubmed ID:
  22479384
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC3314002
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Volume:
  7
• Issue:
  3
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:ea31cb1be153a91a0f977bc20384d3bb46d8cedea3a59e1575b89af660e55dd1
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/8167/cdc_8167_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 491.28 KB ]