Preferred Sample Type
Suitable Specimen Types
- EDTA Whole Blood
Turnaround Time
5 daysHIV-1 viral load
General Information
The Alinity m HIV-1 assay is an in vitro reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for the quantitation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) from HIV-1 infected individuals over the range of 40 to 10,000,000 copies/ml.
Patient Preparation
For taking blood samples we recommend that users follow either their local protocols or “The Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures”.
- Sufficient blood for the test should be drawn into an EDTA vacuum tube
- Invert tube 8–10 times.
Notes
Sample Stability
Please transport samples to the laboratory for testing ASAP. Primary tubes can be tested up to 24hrs after drawing
blood as long as the tubes have been kept at +4◦C. Separated plasma samples can be kept at +4◦C for 5 days before
testing. Plasma samples are stored for 2 years at -20◦C
Debris within serum specimens (e.g. clots, fibrin strands) may interfere with sample processing as a result of insufficient mixing on draw
Specifications
- EQA Scheme?: Yes
- EQA Status: NEQAS and QCMD