HIV-plasma viral load detection by branched DNA signal amplification.

To detect HIV-1 plasma viral load in seropositive patients, we applied a new molecular quantitation technique: branched DNA signal amplification (bDNA). We performed bDNA with 99 sera from HIV-1 seropositive patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy. We compared the results obtained with p24 antigenemia and CD4+ cell count. The bDNA proved quite sensitive and available for routine use in laboratories.