Blood plasma specimens are the clinical standard for HIV-1 pol gene genotyping from viral populations; however, it is not always successful, often from low viral loads or the presence of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) inhibitors.
Objective
To describe the successful of HIV-1 genotyping in two samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), after genotype procedures failed from blood.
Method
Two HIV-infected patients enrolled in a neurocognitive research study were evaluated when standard HIV-1 genotyping failed from blood plasma samples. Genotyping was performed using the commercial system TRUGENE® HIV-1 Genotyping Kit and the OpenGene® DNA Sequencing System (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA).
Results
CSF genotyping was performed via the same commercial platform and was successful in both cases.
Conclusion
This report demonstrates that CSF could be used as an alternate clinical specimen for HIV-1 genotyping when it fails from blood.
HIV-1; clades; genotyping; cerebrospinal fluid; central nervous system
