{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T03:02:41Z","timestamp":1787022161643,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]],"date-time":"2025-03-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1740960000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec040\">\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Plasma HIV viral load tests have been widely used in clinical practice to monitor treatment success or failure. Inappropriate mixing with anticoagulants and inaccessibility of plasma samples in certain clinical services (such as antenatal care services) might hinder HIV diagnosis and treatment services. Considering that serum has higher stability and availability in prenatal care services, periodic monitoring of serum HIV viral load might be an alternative approach. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the plasma and serum HIV-1 viral load measurements among HIV-positive individuals in Northwest Ethiopia.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec041\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      An institution-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 74 paired plasma and serum samples from May to August 2020 at the HIV Treatment Center, Northwest Ethiopia. Four milliliters of paired venous blood were collected to harvest plasma and serum. HIV-1 RNA was extracted and quantified using the Roche COBAS AmpliPrep\/COBAS TaqMan assay. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Paired sample\n                      <jats:italic>t<\/jats:italic>\n                      -tests and Pearson\u2019s correlation were employed to observe the mean differences and associations between sample measurements, respectively. Bland\u2013Altman and linear regression models were computed to demonstrate the level of agreement and proportional bias, respectively. A p-value of \u2264\u2009 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec042\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      From a total of 74 HIV-positive individuals, 49 (66.2%) were females. The mean \u00b1\u2009 SD age was 36.3 (10.1) years. The mean difference \u00b1\u2009 SD of plasma and serum HIV-1 viral load was 0.07 \u00b1\u2009 0.75 log copies\/mL, (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      =\u2009 0.428). A strong association with a significant linear correlation (r =\u2009 0.862) (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&lt; 0.001) and a high level of agreement were observed between the sample measurements using Pearson\u2019s correlation and a Bland\u2013Altman plot, respectively.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec043\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The current study highlights an alternative application of serum-based HIV viral load quantification to enhance the rate of HIV diagnosis and treatment monitoring coverage.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0315717","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]],"date-time":"2025-03-03T13:22:57Z","timestamp":1741008177000},"page":"e0315717","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Comparative evaluation of plasma and serum HIV-1 viral load measurements among HIV positive individuals, Northwest Ethiopia: Analytical cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-1199-1479","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Getu","family":"Girmay","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Habtam","family":"Alemu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0241-8809","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Muluneh","family":"Assefa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nega","family":"Birhane","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mulualem","family":"Lemma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]]},"reference":[{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0315717.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clindermatol.2024.02.001","article-title":"The global burden of HIV","volume":"42","author":"S Payagala","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clin Dermatol"},{"key":"pone.0315717.ref002","volume-title":"HIV and AIDS","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2023"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0315717.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0301850","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0301850","article-title":"Spatial distribution and determinants of HIV high burden in the Southern African sub-region","volume":"19","author":"OO Adetokunboh","year":"2024","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0315717.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"445","DOI":"10.1097\/QAI.0b013e318074ef6e","article-title":"The relation between symptoms, viral load, and viral load set point in primary HIV infection","volume":"45","author":"CF Kelley","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0315717.ref005","first-page":"28","article-title":"Initiation of antiretroviral therapy during primary HIV infection: effects on the latent hiv reservoir, including on analytic treatment interruptions","volume":"23","author":"EM Shelton","year":"2020","journal-title":"AIDS Rev"},{"key":"pone.0315717.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1186\/1742-6405-4-11","article-title":"Predictors of disease progression in HIV infection: a review","volume":"4","author":"SE Langford","year":"2007","journal-title":"AIDS Res Ther"},{"key":"pone.0315717.ref007","volume-title":"Working for Health 2022\u20132030 Action Plan","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2022"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0315717.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"608","DOI":"10.1111\/hiv.13610","article-title":"The changing landscape of both causes and locations of death in a regional HIV population 2010-2021","volume":"25","author":"HB Krentz","year":"2024","journal-title":"HIV Med"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0315717.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e00097","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.00097-18","article-title":"Point-of-care HIV viral load testing: an essential tool for a sustainable global HIV\/AIDS response","volume":"32","author":"PK Drain","year":"2019","journal-title":"Clin Microbiol Rev"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0315717.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"459","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(12)70314-6","article-title":"Community viral load as a measure for assessment of HIV treatment as prevention","volume":"13","author":"WC Miller","year":"2013","journal-title":"Lancet Infect Dis"},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0315717.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0219381","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0219381","article-title":"Reliability of plasma HIV viral load testing beyond 24 hours: insights gained from a study in a routine diagnostic laboratory","volume":"14","author":"D Hardie","year":"2019","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"issue":"20","key":"pone.0315717.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2560","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.286.20.2560","article-title":"HIV viral load response to antiretroviral therapy according to the baseline CD4 cell count and viral load","volume":"286","author":"AN Phillips","year":"2001","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0315717.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2443","DOI":"10.1007\/s10461-019-02509-5","article-title":"Effectiveness of a viral load suppression intervention for highly vulnerable people living with HIV","volume":"23","author":"T Ghose","year":"2019","journal-title":"AIDS Behav"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0315717.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"188","DOI":"10.1016\/j.kjms.2014.12.010","article-title":"Comparison of the Roche COBAS AmpliPrep\/COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 test v1.0 with v2.0 in HIV-1 viral load quantification","volume":"31","author":"Y-C Tung","year":"2015","journal-title":"Kaohsiung J Med Sci"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0315717.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"128","DOI":"10.1086\/510073","article-title":"HIV viral load monitoring in resource-limited regions: optional or necessary?","volume":"44","author":"A Calmy","year":"2007","journal-title":"Clin Infect Dis"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0315717.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e2052","DOI":"10.1002\/rmv.2052","article-title":"Lessons in diagnostic virology: expected and unexpected sources of error","volume":"29","author":"G van Zyl","year":"2019","journal-title":"Rev Med Virol"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0315717.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1043","DOI":"10.1093\/cid\/ciw001","article-title":"Scale-up of routine viral load testing in resource-poor settings: current and future implementation challenges","volume":"62","author":"T Roberts","year":"2016","journal-title":"Clin Infect Dis"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0315717.ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.3352\/jeehp.2021.18.17","article-title":"Sample size determination and power analysis using the G*Power software","volume":"18","author":"H Kang","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Educ Eval Health Prof"},{"key":"pone.0315717.ref019","first-page":"1","author":"Federal Ministry of Health. National consolidated guidelines for comprehensive HIV prevention, care and treatment","year":"2018"},{"key":"pone.0315717.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1585","DOI":"10.2147\/PPA.S268395","article-title":"Level of adherence and associated factors among hiv-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy in northern ethiopia: retrospective analysis","volume":"14","author":"AA Desta","year":"2020","journal-title":"Patient Prefer Adherence"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0315717.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcv.2010.06.004","article-title":"Improved HIV-1 RNA quantitation by COBAS AmpliPrep\/COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 Test, v2.0 using a novel dual-target approach","volume":"49","author":"D Sizmann","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Clin Virol"},{"key":"pone.0315717.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S27","DOI":"10.1086\/650390","article-title":"Laboratory operations, specimen processing, and handling for viral load testing and surveillance","author":"A Puren","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Infect Dis"},{"key":"pone.0315717.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1128\/9781555819156.ch6","article-title":"Specimen requirements selection, collection, transport, and processing.","volume-title":"Clinical Virology Manual","author":"R Khare","year":"2016"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0315717.ref024","first-page":"179","article-title":"The declaration of Helsinki: the cornerstone of research ethics","volume":"9","author":"S Bo\u0161njak","year":"2001","journal-title":"Arch Oncol"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0315717.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"598","DOI":"10.1136\/jme.2009.034132","article-title":"The 2008 declaration of Helsinki: some reflections","volume":"36","author":"S Giordano","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Med Ethics"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0315717.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100127","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcvp.2022.100127","article-title":"Comparison of serum and plasma viral load measurements in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection","volume":"3","author":"L Mouna","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Clin Virol Plus"},{"issue":"12","key":"pone.0315717.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3288","DOI":"10.1128\/jcm.35.12.3288-3291.1997","article-title":"Comparison of the amplicor HIV-1 monitor test and the nucleic acid sequence-based amplification assay for quantitation of human immunodeficiency virus RNA in plasma, serum, and plasma subjected to freeze-thaw cycles","volume":"35","author":"BP Griffith","year":"1997","journal-title":"J Clin Microbiol"}],"container-title":["PLOS ONE"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0315717","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]],"date-time":"2025-03-03T13:23:09Z","timestamp":1741008189000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0315717"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Seth Agyei","family":"Domfeh","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0315717","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]]}}}