Monitoring Atypical HIV Strains in Los Angeles County

描述(由申请人提供)： 这项研究活动的目的是在洛杉矶县对最近被诊断为艾滋病毒的人进行基于血清的非典型艾滋病毒流行情况的常规监测，并评估在没有血清的情况下使用干血点(DBS)对非典型艾滋病毒株进行常规监测的可行性和效率。关于洛杉矶县艾滋病毒耐药株和非B亚型流行情况的数据对于确定新出现的流行病、监测艾滋病毒传播趋势和确定艾滋病毒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毒株进行常规监测的艾滋病毒检测地点和(B)仅提供艾滋病毒非典型菌株常规监测的艾滋病毒检测地点，监测艾滋病毒耐药株和非B型艾滋病毒亚型的流行率；(2)比较可使用艾滋病毒诊断血清对非典型艾滋病毒毒株进行常规监测的地点和仅可提供艾滋病毒非典型菌株监测的地点收集和处理样本所需的后勤、资源和工作时间；(3)对新诊断为HIV感染者的血清和DBS样本进行HIV基因分型结果的比较。拟议的研究活动将采用横断面研究设计，以确定洛杉矶县公共资助的艾滋病毒检测点新确诊的艾滋病毒携带者中非典型艾滋病毒株的流行率。为了确定非典型HIV毒株在研究人群中的流行率，将对从实验室储备或直接从研究参与者那里获得的血液样本进行HIV基因分型，无论是血清还是DBS。

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.