Strategies to quantify unspliced and multiply spliced mRNA expression in HIV-2 infection

► We compared one-step and two-step RT-pPCR methods to quantify HIV-2 mRNA transcripts. ► These are important to investigate low HIV-2 viremia despite high proviral DNA. ► The two-step RT-qPCR provides improved detection of low level HIV-2 gag and tat mRNA.