Evaluation of genotypic prediction of HIV-1 tropism using population sequencing of replicates

► HIV tropism is an important biological characteristic. ► Phenotypic assays are costly and of limited access. ► HIV diversity is an obstacle to tropism genotypic prediction. ► Replicate, independent RT-PCR and sequencing may improve tropism genotypic prediction. ► Nucleotide ambiguities, but not the number of replicates, are associated with X4 prediction.