In 1986, 3 years after the discovery of HIV, a second virus called HIV-2 was in turn isolated. The HIV-2 genome shares only 40-50% nucleotide homology with the HIV-1 genome.
1 to 2 million people are living with HIV-2; the majority lives in West Africa (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Capo Verde) and, in Europe, in two countries with historical links to this region: France, where HIV-2 represents 1.8% of new HIV diagnoses, and Portugal.
GENERIC HIV-2 Charge Virale [RUO]
GENERIC HIV-2 Charge Virale test is a tool to quantify viral load of HIV-2 for research use only.
The test relies on two main technical stages:
1. Retroviral RNA extraction using automated method
2. Real-Time PCR amplification of the extracted RNA and detection by TaqMan technology
Features:
-
Targeted region located at the level of LTR (Long Terminal Repeat) / gag
-
Detection limit: 22 copies/mL for a 500 μL sample
-
Duration: 3 hours (extraction + amplification)
-
Type of sample: plasma which is collected from anticoagulants (EDTA)