maxRatio improves the detection of samples with abnormal amplification profiles on QIAgen’s artus HIV-1 qPCR assay

Background: Accurate viral load (VL) determination is paramount to determine the efficacy of anti-HIV-1 therapy. The conventional method used, fit-point (FP), assumes an equal efficiency in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) among samples that might not hold for low-input templates. An alternative approach, maxRatio, was introduced compensate inhibition PCR. Methods: Herein, we assessed whether maxRatio could improve VL quantification using 2,544 QIAgen artus HI virus-1 RT-PCR reactions. assay’s standard dilutions were used build external curves with either FP or re-calculated VLs. Results: and highly comparable (Pearson’s ρ=0.994, Cohen’s κ=0.885), combination two methods identified (n=41) aberrant amplification profiles. Conclusions: predictive value assay.