Detection of HIV-1 RNA in heparinized plasma of HIV-1 seropositive individuals.
The interference of reverse transcription by heparin was removed by heparinase. When the HIV-1 RNA in the presence of heparin was detected by a combination of reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), heparinase treatment followed by removal of Ca2+ before the reverse transcription step permitted the efficient detection of HIV-1 RNA. Prior treatment with heparinase revealed HIV-1 RNA in 68% (13/19) of heparinized plasma samples from HIV-1 carriers, whereas only 26% (5/19) of the same specimens were positive without the heparinase step. Heparinase removed the inhibition of reverse transcription by heparin and is highly recommended when detecting low levels of viral RNA in heparinized plasma.