A novel RealTime HIV-1 Qualitative assay for the detection of HIV-1 nucleic acids in dried blood spots and plasma

► The Abbott RealTime HIV-1 Qualitative assay is capable of detecting HIV-1 group M subtypes A-H, groups O and N samples. ► 95% detection concentrations were 80 copies/mL in plasma using the plasma protocol, and 2469 copies/mL in blood using the DBS protocol. ► The assay detected HIV-1 infection in seroconversion panels earlier than HIV-1 antibody and p24 antigen tests. ► In infants exposed to HIV, both the DBS and plasma protocols agreed well with the Roche Amplicor HIV-1 DNA Test version 1.5.