July 2000 Cover
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Testing for drug resistance in HIV infection is critical when choosing a new treatment regimen after previous failures. Both phenotype (how does a patient's HIV respond in the presence of drug) and genotype (what
genetic markers are present in a patient's HIV that suggest this or that drug resistance) assays are available.
When using HIV drug resistance testing, clinicians should take into account factors other than test results when changing therapies. These factors include drug treatment history, viral load, medication
tolerance, adherence likelihood, and related medical conditions. Experts suggest that resistance testing be considered for treatment-naive individuals with established infection; however, it is not firmly recommended for these patients.
Researchers note that while resistance testing is costly, when properly used, it can help reduce the overall costs of therapy by identifying appropriate treatments.
Editor's Note: from JAMA
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