Abstract: Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) in detecting HIV-1 DNA. Methods: HIV-1 pol gene was synthesized and cloned into pUC57 vector, named as pHIV-1-pol. pHIV-1-pol was the positive control and the RNase-free water was used as a negative control of RPA. Samples from 13 patients were detected with RPA and the results were compared with HIV-1 antibody detection. Results: The purpose segment successfully was amplified by RPA for 20 min and the minimum concentration plasmid DNA was 101 copies/μL. There was no amplification products in the negative control and 3 samples with HIV Ab(-). The specific amplification products were found in the positive control. The result of RPA was accordance with HIV antibody detection. Patient 1, 2, 7, 10 and 12 was positive for RPA and HIV antibody detection. Conclusion: RPA is a fast and simple method with high sensitivity and spectivity in detecting HIV-1 DNA. 

Key words: AIDS, recombinase polymerase amplification, isothermal amplification