METHOD FOR HIV QUANTITATION

摘要

A method for quantitating nucleic acid in a test sample is provided. HIV is discussed as an exemplary nucleic acid, ranging from 100 to nearly 22,000,000 copies per milliliter of plasma (corresponding to 50 to 11,000,000 virions per milliliter). HIV was readily quantitated in HIV-infected patients. The method of the present invention is useful in assessing efficacy of antiretroviral agents, especially in early stage disease when conventional viral markers are often negative. Diagnostic reagents for quantitating HIV nucleic acid are also provided. Additionally a method for accurately determining cell copy number is provided.