Monitoring Atypical HIV Strains in Los Angeles County

描述（由申请人提供）： 本研究活动的目的是对洛杉矶县最近确诊的HIV感染者中非典型HIV毒株的流行情况进行常规血清监测，并评价在无法获得血清的情况下使用干血斑（DBS）对非典型HIV毒株进行常规监测的可行性和有效性。 关于洛杉矶县耐药HIV毒株和非B亚型流行率的数据对于识别新出现的流行病、监测HIV传播趋势以及确定HIV预防资源的目标至关重要。 该项目的具体目标是：（1）在（a）可使用艾滋病毒诊断血清对非典型艾滋病毒株进行常规监测的艾滋病毒检测点和（B）仅可使用DBS对非典型艾滋病毒株进行常规监测的艾滋病毒检测点，监测新诊断的艾滋病毒感染者中艾滋病毒耐药株和非B艾滋病毒亚型的流行情况;（2）比较在可使用HIV诊断血清对非典型HIV毒株进行常规监测的研究中心和仅可使用DBS的研究中心采集和处理标本所需的后勤、资源和工作人员时间;（3）比较对新近诊断为HIV感染者的血清和DBS标本进行HIV基因分型的结果。 拟议的研究活动将采用横断面研究设计，以确定在洛杉矶县公共资助的艾滋病毒检测点新诊断为艾滋病毒的人中非典型艾滋病毒株的流行率。为了确定研究人群中非典型HIV毒株的患病率，将对从实验室储备或直接从研究受试者获得的血液标本（血清或DBS）进行HIV基因分型。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The purpose of this research activity is to conduct routine serum-based monitoring of the prevalence of atypical strains of HIV among persons recently diagnosed with HIV in Los Angeles County and to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of using dried blood spots (DBS) for routine surveillance of atypical strains of HIV where serum is not available. Data on the prevalence of drug resistant HIV strains and non-B subtypes in Los Angeles County is critical for the identification of emerging epidemics, the monitoring of trends in HIV transmission, and the targeting of HIV prevention resources. The specific aims of this project are: (1) To monitor the prevalence of HIV drug resistant strains and non-B HIV subtypes in persons newly diagnosed with HIV at (a) HIV testing sites where HIV diagnostic sera can be used for routine surveillance of atypical strains of HIV and (b) HIV testing sites where only DBS are available for routine surveillance of atypical strains of HIV; (2) To compare the logistics, resources, and staff time needed to collect and process specimens in sites where HIV diagnostic sera can be used for routine surveillance of atypical HIV strains and in sites where only DBS are available; and (3) To compare the results of HIV genotyping performed on serum and DBS specimens obtained from persons newly diagnosed with HIV. The proposed research activity will employ a cross-sectional study design to determine the prevalence of atypical HIV strains among persons newly diagnosed with HIV at publicly funded HIV testing sites in Los Angeles County. To determine the prevalence of atypical HIV strains in the study population, HIV genotyping will be performed on blood specimens, either serum or DBS, obtained from laboratory reserves or directly from study participants.