Diagnostic services
The Special Infectious Disease Laboratories (SIDLs) of the HIV Program at the
Children's Memorial Hospital offer both research-based and clinical diagnostic
monitoring services to patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type
1 (HIV-1). SIDLs are CLIA (ID#: 14D0665386) and JCAHO-certified laboratories and
have served hospitals throughout Chicagoland and other states since 1989.
For more information about the lab's diagnostic
services, please e-mail your inquiry to Bill Kabat.
The main telephone number is: 773.880.4907 or 880.6608; the fax number is
773.880.6609.
The SIDLs are located at 2300 Children's Plaza, #155, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
.
The following is a comprehensive list of our services:
1. Detection of HIV-1 infection
Early detection of HIV-1 infection
provides an opportunity for the most promising approach in treating and
prolonging lives of patients who are infected with HIV-1. It allows immediate
therapeutic intervention. Early treatment can slow disease progression and
reduce morbidity due to potential opportunistic infections.
1.1. HIV-1 detection in newborn package
Please contact Children's
for up-to-date pricing information.
| Test code: |
IMDLA |
| Test package includes: |
Detection of HIV-1 proviral DNA by PCR, confirmation of HIV-1
infection by qualitative HIV-1 culture and by ICD-p24 assay. |
| Specimen requirement: |
Whole blood (min. 3.0 cc; optimal 4.0); store and transport at room
temperature; specimen must be received within 48 hours of collection |
| Collection tubes: |
EDTA (lavender top) or ACD (yellow-top) |
| Test set up: |
Thursday |
| Test report time: |
24 hours after set up time (for PCR and ICD-p24); 32 days for viral
culture. |
1.2. HIV-1 Detection in pediatric ( 9 month) or adult
patients package
| Test code: |
IMDLB |
| Test package includes: |
Detection of HIV-1 proviral DNA by PCR, confirmation of HIV-1
infection by Western blot, Qualitative HIV-1 culture and by ICD-p24
assay. |
| Specimen requirement: |
Whole blood (min. 3.0 cc; 4.0 cc optimal) for pediatric patients and
10 cc for adult; store and transport at room temperature; specimen must be
received within 48 hours of collection |
| Collection tubes: |
EDTA (lavender top) or ACD (yellow-top) |
| Test set up: |
Thursday |
| Test report time: |
24 hours after set up time (for PCR, Western blot and ICD-p24) 4 - 32
days (for viral culture) |
1.3 HIV-1 Detection by PCR
| Test code: |
IMDLC |
| Test: |
Roche Amplicor HIV-1 proviral DNA assay |
| Specimen requirement: |
Whole blood, min. 2.0 cc for pediatric patients and 10 cc for adults;
store and transport at room temperature; specimen must be received within
48 hours of collection |
| Collection tubes: |
EDTA (lavender top) or ACD (yellow-top) |
| Test set up: |
Thursday |
| Test report time: |
24 hours after set-up time |
1.4 HIV-1 Detection by viral culture
| Test code: |
IRCUB |
| Test: |
HIV-1 qualitative culture |
| Specimen type: |
Whole blood (min. 3.0 cc) |
| Collection tubes: |
EDTA (lavender top) or ACD (yellow-top) |
| Test set up: |
Daily |
| Turn around time: |
4-32 days |
1.5 Detection of HIV-1 infection by HIV-1 specific
antibody assay
| Test code: |
IVABB |
| Test: |
Enzyme Immunosorbant Assay (recombinant) |
| Specimen type: |
Serum (min. 1.0 cc), plasma acceptable |
| Collection tubes: |
Red top |
| Test set up: |
Daily |
| Turn around time: |
24 hours |
Note: Repeat positive results from this test will be confirmed by reflexive
Western Blot, test code: IDWBB. Additional charge will be added.
1.6 Confirmation of HIV-1 infection by HIV-1 Western
Blot
| Test code: |
IDWBB |
| Test: |
HIV-1 Western blot |
| Specimen type: |
Serum (min. 1.0 cc), plasma acceptable |
| Collection tubes: |
Red top |
| Test set up: |
Daily |
| Turn around time: |
24 hours |
2. Tests for monitoring infection status and efficacy
of antiviral drug treatment
HIV-1 viral RNA level is one of the virologic markers to
prognose disease progression and patient's response to antiviral therapy. When
prescribed anti-HIV drugs such as the "cocktail therapy" (also known as highly
active antiretroviral therpay (HAART) are effective in fighting the AIDS virus
in a patient, typically the viral RNA levels will drop >50% within 1-2 days
after drug administration. More than 90% of the viruses will be eliminated after
7-14 days' drug therapy as determined by quantitative measurement of the viral
RNA load. RT-PCR is now considered as one the most sensitive methods in
measuring the viral RNA load from plasma. By introducing this new method, we can
now accurately measure the viral level with a 24 hours turn-around, which offer
physicians real-time scenario of the viruses responding to the antiviral
therapy, and thus allow them to treat each individual patient accordingly.
2.1 HIV-1 viral level monitoring package:
(This package measures
viral burden in both the plasma and cellular compartments)
| Test code: |
IMDLD |
| Test package includes: |
Quantitation of HIV-1 viral RNA by RT-PCR, ICD-p24 antigen and
quantitative HIV-1 culture. |
| Specimen type: |
Whole blood (min. 3.0 cc; 4.0 cc optimal) for pediatric patients and
10 cc for adults |
| Collection tubes: |
EDTA (lavender top) or ACT (yellow top). |
| Test set up: |
Tuesday |
| Test Report Time: |
24 hours after set up time (for RT-PCR and ICD-p24) 18 days (for viral
culture) |
2.2 HIV-1 infection status monitoring package
| Test code: |
IMDLE |
| Test package includes: |
Quantitation of HIV-1 viral RNA by RT-PCR, Immunodeficiency T-cell
panel and HIV-1 MT-2 Phenotyping |
| Specimen type: |
Whole blood (min. 4.0 cc for pediatric patients and 10 cc for
adults) |
| Collection tubes: |
EDTA (lavender top) or ACT (yellow top) |
| Test Set Up: |
Tuesday (RT-PCR), Daily (T-cell panel) |
| Test Report Time: |
24 hours after set up time (for PCR and T-cell panel) 32 days (for
MT-2 phenotyping) |
2.3 Quantitation of plasma HIV-1 by viral RNA
level
| Test code: |
IMDLF |
| Test: |
Quantitative HIV-1 RNA PCR by Roche Monitor assay1 |
| Specimen type: |
Whole blood (min. 3.0 cc for pediatric patients and 6 cc for
adults) |
| Collection tubes: |
EDTA (lavender top) or ACT (yellow top) |
| Test Set Up: |
Tuesday |
| Test Report Time: |
24 hours |
2.4 Quantitation of cellular HIV-1 by viral
culture
| Test code: |
IRCQB |
| Test: |
Quantitative HIV-1 culture |
| Specimen type: |
Whole blood (min. 3.0 cc; 4.0 cc optimal) for pediatric patients and
10 cc for adults |
| Collection tubes: |
ACD (yellow top) or Heparin (green top) |
| Test set up: |
Daily |
| Turn around time: |
18 days |
2.5 Quantitation of plasma HIV-1 by viral culture
| Test code: |
IRPLB |
| Test: |
Quantitative HIV-1 plasma culture |
| Specimen type: |
Whole blood (min. 4.0 cc for pediatric and 10 cc for adult
patients) |
| Collection tubes: |
ACD (yellow top) preffered, or Heparin (green top) |
| Test set up: |
Daily |
| Turn around time: |
18 days |
2.6 Quantitation of HIV-1 p24 antigen level by standard
assay
| Test code: |
IRAGB |
| Test: |
Quantitative p24 antigen (standard) |
| Specimen type: |
Serum/plasma (min. 2.0 cc) |
| Collection tubes: |
ACD (yellow top) or Red top |
| Test set up: |
Tuesday and Thursday |
| Turn around time: |
24 hours |
2.7 Quantitation of HIV-1 p24 antigen level by ICD
assay
| Test code: |
IRICB |
| Test: |
Quantitative p24 Antigen (ICD) |
| Specimen type: |
Serum/plasma (min. 2.0 cc) |
| Collection tubes: |
ACD (yellow top) or Red top |
| Test set up: |
Tuesday and Thursday |
| Turn around time: |
24 hours |
2.8 Characterization of HIV-1 viral phenotype
| Test code: |
IRMTB |
| Test: |
HIV-1 MT-2 Phenotype |
| Turn around time: |
18 days |
| Comment: |
Requires previously isolated viral strains. If isolate is not
available, qualitative viral culture is performed prior to this test
adding 32 days. |
2.9 HIV-1 immunodeficiency panel (quantitation of
CD4/CD8 lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry)
| Test code: |
ITSS |
| Test: |
Flow Cytometry |
| Specimen type: |
Whole blood (min. 3.0 cc) |
| Collection tubes: |
EDTA (lavender top) |
| Test set up: |
Daily |
| Turn around time: |
24 hours |
3.0 Quantitation of HIV-1 proviral DNA in PBMC 5
| Test code: |
IDNAQ |
| Test: |
Quantitative HIV-1 DNA by Real-time TaqMan PCR |
| Specimen type: |
PBMC (min. 2 x 10 6 ) or purified DNA |
| Collection tubes: |
EDTA (lavender top) or ACT (yellow top) |
| Test Set Up: |
Monday |
| Test Report Time: |
48 hours |
Note:
- Test results will include: Total T-cell (CD3%), (CD3+/CD4+ percent
(T-helper subset); CD3+/CD8+ percent (T-suppressor), CD3+/CD19+ percent (B
cells); CD3+/CD56+ + CD16+ (NK cells) and CD4:CD8 ratio.
- This panel provides the standard measure of CD4/CD8 ratio and includes B
and NK subset numbers. This addition of B and NK subsets allows for optimal
internal quality control for each specimen and provides information of
reliable B and NK lymphocyte sub-populations.
- For absolute counts, a WBC must be performed at the time of T-cell draw.
Submit WBC and % lymphocyte numbers and we will calculate absolute numbers for
the client.
- A modified panal is available upon request at lesser charge. Please
inquire for details.
- For research use only. Not for diagnostic purpose.
Monitoring and detection of HIV antiviral resistant
mutations
During the antiviral drugs therapy, inevitably, the drugs will lose their
effectiveness because of mutations within the viruses. With our AZT drug
resistant RT codon 215 detection and phenotypic drug susceptibility methods, we
can determine whether drug-resistant viruses are present in the patients.
Through this detection, the physician can prepare for changes by switching
treatments and drug therapies that will continue to battle the virus.
3.1 HIV-1 drug resistance assay
| Test code: |
RCQB |
| Test: |
Drug susceptibility test in culture |
| Comment: |
Culture assay requires previously isolated viral stains |
| Turn around time: |
21 days |
3.2 HIV-1 genotyping of reverse transcriptase and
protease genes 1
| Test code: |
IGENO |
| Test: |
HIV-1 Genotyping |
| Collection tubes: |
EDTA (lavender top) or ACT (yellow top) |
| Test Set Up: |
First week of each month |
| Test Report Time: |
4 days |
1. For research only. Not for diagnostic purpose.