| In the past
our laboratory offered the molecular biology test of determining
viral load to HIV patients in our hospital.This later showed
to be of great use in following the evolution of the illness.
Currently this test is part of the routine analysis of all
public hospitals in this country, free of charge.
Resistance to antiviral drugs
is a phenomenon which may limit therapeutic benefits. The
genetic base of such resistance may help in designing new
more effective personal treatments .As a consequence irsiCaixa
launched the HIV Sequencing Service in 1998. This service
offers the possibility of a genetic molecular analysis of
drug targeting genes: protease and reverse transcriptase.
After having a plasma sample
the specialized technicians of the sequencing service take
an extraction of the genetic material of the virus . They
chemically amplify it and then it is sequenced .Then a report
is filled out in which the detected mutations indicate which
drug has lost efficacy against the viral strains and which
ones are still efficacious .On the base of this report the
viral load, the number of CD4, and the clinical case study,
the physician can design an individualized treatment with
a high guarantee of success.
Who may make a request?
The application has to be solicited by a medical doctor by
getting in touch with us. She will indicate the conditions
for extraction, sample shipping, identification papers, and
records needed to be enclosed.
How long will it take to
return the results?
Around 15 days if the material is adequate for processing.
The report will be then sent by fax or post to the soliciting
doctor.
Who qualifies for testing?
Those patients whose minimum viral load is 1,000 copies of
RNA/ml of plasma.
Why is the irsiCaixa Sequencing
Service so special?
It offers you the latest HIV sequencing technology done by
expert technicians with several years of experience in interpreting
the molecular technique . Moreover, it has special installations
used to minimize false results, quality controlled computer
systems and personalized attention in the case of consultation.The
service provides an advisory staff of widely trained biologists,
physicians, biochemists and data processors.
What is the testing fee?
At the moment the public health system does not cover this
type of test. Therefore, the patient must pay or find another
finantial support (laboratories, pharmaceuticals, biotechnological
industries). Contact us to obtain current information to the
respect.
In sending the samples,
what conditions of biosecurity are necessary?
The samples can be full blood or plasma. The full blood sample
can be stored at room temperature but should be sent to us
by the fastest means. The plasma should be sent frozen (2
vials with a milliliter in each one). The samples should be
sent in containers specially designed for the transport of
infectious material. All of them have to be properly marked
with the "Biological Hazard" symbol, and to fulfill
the legal requirements of strength, rigidity and watertightness
to avoid spills of infectious material in case of accidents
(photo 1 and 2).
In the case of sending frozen
samples there are containers already prepared to maintain
their frozen state for a certain extended but limited time
period (photo 3). Samples should never be sent in other nonsuitable
containers (photo 4). Remember that the transported biological
samples in deficient conditions represent a risk for the mail
personnel and administration.
OUR CENTER WILL NOT ADMIT ANY
SAMPLE THAT IN NOT PACKED PROPERLY.
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