Early diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in infants using RNA Quantitative PCR in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Materials and methods From January to December 2008, 114 infants born to HIV-1 infected mothers were referred to the University Hospital Yalgado Ouedraogo (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso), for early diagnosis of HIV infection. Two to 3 mL of blood sample were collected on EDTA/K3 microtubes from each infant. After centrifugation, the plasma samples were stored at -80°C, until their use. HIV-1 RNA was detected in each sample using Abbott RealTime HIV-1 Assay (Abbott Molecular) and m2000rt protocol: the RNA detection threshold was 40 copies/mL (1.6 Log). From each infant with RNA positive result, a second plasma sample was collected 4 weeks later to confirm the previous RNA result Sociodemographic data were collected from the infants and analysed.