Evaluation of GBV-C / HVG viremia in HIV-infected women

the present study aimed at standardizing a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay to evaluate the presence of gbv-c/hgv rna. a "taqman" assay using primers and probe derived from the 5￠ ncr region was developed and validated. two hundred and fifty-three plasma samples from hiv-infected women were tested for gbv-c viremia and antibody against the envelope protein 2. gbv-c rna was detected in 22.5% of the patients whereas the antibody was identified in 25.3% of the cohort. detection of viral rna and of antibodies was mutually exclusive. viral loads showed a mean of 1,777 arbitrary units / ml, being 1.1 and 13,625 arbitrary units / ml respectively the lowest and highest values measured. we conclude that the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction method developed is appropriate for the investigation of gbv-c rna since it was shown to be highly specific and sensitive, as well as requiring few steps, preventing contamination and providing additional information as to the relative viremia of carriers, a parameter that must be included in studies evaluating the co-factors influencing the clinical outcome of hiv/aids.