Comparison of levels of HIV-1 resistance to protease inhibitors by recombinant versus conventional virus phenotypic assay and two genotypic interpretation procedures in treatment-naive and HAART-experienced HIV-infected patients

Abstract

Objectives: To compare genotypic and phenotypic HIV-1 drug resistance assays. Methods: Protease inhibitor (PI) susceptibility was phenotypically analysed in HIV-1 isolates and recombinant viruses expressing proteases from viral isolates. Two genotypic interpretation methods were carried out in parallel. Results: Entirely concordant resistance levels were shown in 5/10 (50%) highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-experienced patients, Conclusions: The four assays provide comparable results. The recombinant virus phenotypic assay may provide the most accurate evaluation of resistance; however, genotypic interpretation procedures are helpful for daily therapeutic decisions.