SCOPE is an observational, prospective study of HIV-1 infected volunteers designed to provide a specimen bank of samples with carefully characterized clinical data. SCOPE specimens will be used to examine multiple questions involving virologic, immunologic, and host factors involved in HIV-1 infection, progression, non-progression, response to treatment, control of HIV-1 virus, and evolution of drug resistance.
SCOPE is an observational, prospective study of HIV-1 infected volunteers designed to provide a specimen bank of samples with carefully characterized clinical data. Samples from SCOPE will be used to examine:
- Virologic, immunologic, and host factors involved in the natural control of HIV-1 infection (long term non-progression and/or virologic control of HIV-1 without antiretroviral therapy)
- Virologic and immune correlates associated with disease progression
- Evolution of antiretroviral drug resistance
- Factors associated with transmission or acquisition of HIV infection
Enrolled subjects are seen at San Francisco General Hospital every four months for a detailed interview, saliva collection, and blood draw. Baseline visits take approximately one hour, follow up visits take approximately 20-40 minutes. No personal identifiers are used for specimen bank samples.