Taqman method

[Sverik]

Hi
Could someone please explain the difference between the amplicor hiv-1 1.5 ultrasensitive test and the teqman method. I tried google for an answer but I still don't get it. What is the detection range for each of these tests?
Thanks
S.

[newt]

In terms of viral load quantification they refer to testing platforms and processes

The Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Test, version 1.5 is the oldest commercial FDA-approved automated HIV viral load counting kit. It measures viral load (HIV-1 RNA) from 50 to 750,000 copies/mL.

The TaqMan Analyzer uses the same basic platform as the Amplicor but adds an updated  analyser to count HIV particles. This first version is licensed to measure from 40 copies (Canada) or 48 (US) copies/mL to 10,000,000 copies/mL. The very latest version of this test (version 2) measures from  20 to 10,000,000 copies/mL. This version is better at counting minority sub-types of HIV-1, like sub-types 0 and M, Unfortunately, it is also more sensitive and tends to offer more results that look like blips but aren't.

These tests are not used for diagnosing HIV.

Hope ths shelps

- matt

[Sverik]

Thanks Matt
So, basically it has no major impact on us "undetectables", but is better in determining the high viral load. It's recently been presented to us here in Croatia as an improvement, so I thought it would detect the viremia at much lower levels than 40-50. I don't know which version (1 or 2) they are using though.
But I guess the most important thing is that the result still shows - 0!