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MANUAL ON QUALITY STANDARDS FOR HIV TESTING LABORATORIES

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Human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) belong to the family Retroviridae and subfamily Lentivirinae and Genus Lentivirus . Two types of HIV are recognized; HIV-1 and HIV-2. Both differ in geographical distribution, biological and molecular characteristics and extent of transmissibility. These viruses store their genetic information as ribonucleic acid (RNA). RNA must be converted to DNA by a special enzyme, reverse transcriptase. HIV-1 has 3 groups, HIV-1 major group (HIV 1-M), outlier (HIV 1-O) and new (HIV 1-N) group. The strains of HIV-1 isolated from people in USA and Europe are genetically diverse from strains isolated in Africa and Asia. HIV-1 major group can be further classified into subtypes or clades designated A through K excluding I. Such subtypes have envelope gene sequences that vary by 20% or more between subtypes. The subtypes also differ in geographical distribution, biological characteristics and major mode of transmission, etc. HIV-1 subtypes O and N are more distant to all other HIV-1 subtypes but less so compared to HIV-2. So these are classified under HIV-1 only and have limited distribution in West Africa. HIV-2 has also been reported from other countries and this also comprises of heterogeneous group of viruses.

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Series Title

MANUAL ON QUALITY STANDARDS FOR HIV TESTING LABORATORIES

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Publisher

: ., 2007

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Language

English

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NONE

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Subject(s)

Management

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