[Use of Amplicor HIV-1 DNA test v.1.5 in diagnosis of perinatal infection from HIV-1 in Cuba].

Introduction: HIV-1 proviral DNA amplification is the preferential method for HIV diagnosis infection in infants and it has been used in Cuba since 1992. AMPLICOR HIV-1 DNA kit is an in vitro qualitative assay for the detection of HIV-1 proviral DNA in the whole blood.
Objective: this paper showed the results of the use of this kit for the first time in Cuba for the perinatal diagnosis of HIV-1 infection.
Methods: three hundred forty six whole blood samples from children of HIV seropositive women were analyzed by the AMPLICOR HIV-1 DNA kit in the period 2005-2007.
Results: among the tested samples, six were positive, and 340 negative.
Conclusions: the assay was reproducible under the Cuban conditions and the achieved results made the diagnosis and follow up of children of HIV-1 seropositive mothers possible.