The DC CFAR Virology Laboratory, based in the Infectious Diseases Laboratory at the DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, provides discounted, high-throughput virology assays for HIV and HCV for the DC CFAR investigator community. The laboratory is certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and participates in ongoing proficiency testing.
Services and Instrumentation
Quantitative HIV-1 RNA (HIV viral load testing) using the Abbott Real-Time HIV-1 assay. Assay dynamic range: 40-10,000,000 copies/mL. Cost: $104/assay
Quantitative HCV RNA using the Abbott Real-Time HCV assay. Dynamic range 12-100,000,000 IU/mL. Cost: $134/assay
HCV genotyping using the Abbott RealTime HCV Genotyping to distinguish genotypes 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Sensitive to 500 IU/mL. Cost: $205/assay
Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhea using the Abbott Real-Time CT/NG assay. Collection must be done using the Abbott multi-Collect Specimen Collection Kit. This kit can be used to collect specimens from the vagina, endocervix, male urethra or urine from males or females. Cost: $45/assay
Leadership
The Virology Laboratory at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center is supervised by Dr. Rebecca Shinol. Dr. Shinol and the laboratory staff are available to consult on the design of experiments using assays performed by the laboratory and on the development of protocols and grant applications that may use the resources of the laboratory.
