Identification of human immunodeficiency virus sequences by using in vitro enzymatic amplification and oligomer cleavage detection

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and related disorders. Assays to detect antibodies to HIV proteins have been developed and used to screen sera for the identification of individuals who have been exposed to the virus. Although these serological tests have significant sensitivity and specificity for detecting exposure to the virus, they do not provide direct identification of HIV. We report here the application of recently developed nucleic acid amplification and oligonucleotide-based detection procedures for the identification of HIV sequences in established infected cell lines and in cells cultured from infected individuals.