Nucleic acid sequences that can be used as primers and probes in the amplification and detection of all subtypes of HIV-1

A pair of oligonucleotide primers, for use as a primer set in the amplification of a target sequence located within the LTR region of the genome of HIV-1, said primer pair consisting of:

• a first oligonucleotide being 15-50 nucleotides in length and comprising:
• a) at least 15 sequential nucleotides of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
• SEQ ID NO:
• 1:
• G GGC GCC ACT GCT AGA GA;
• SEQ ID NO:
• 2:
• G TTC GGG CGC CAC TGC TAG A;
• and
• SEQ ID NO:
• 3:
• CGG GCG CCA CTG CTA;
• and
• b) a T7 promoter sequence operably associated with the nucleotide sequence of (a), and
• a second oligonucleotide being 15-50 nucleotides in length and comprising at least 15 sequential nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:5:
• CTC AAT AAA GCT TGC CTT GA.

A method for the detection of HIV-1 nucleic acid in a sample in a transcription based amplification system reaction, comprising:

• a) contacting the sample with a pair of oligonucleotide primers, said primer pair consisting of:
• a first oligonucleotide being 15-50 nucleotides in length and comprising:
• i) at least 15 sequence nucleotides of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
• SEQ ID NO:
• 1:
• G GGC GCC ACT GCT AGA GA;
• SEQ ID NO:2:
• G TTC GGG CGC CAC TGC TAG A;
• and
• SEQ ID NO:3:
• CGG GCG CCA CTG CTA;
• and
• ii) a DNA dependent RNA promoter operably associated with the nucleotide sequence of (i), and
• a second oligonucleotide being 15-50 nucleotides in length and comprising at least 15 sequential nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:5:
• CTC AAT AAA GCT TGC CTT GA,
• under conditions whereby the transcription based amplification system reaction can occur to amplify the HIV-1 nucleic acid;
• and
• b) detecting the presence of amplified HIV-1 nucleic acid, thereby detecting HIV-1 nucleic acid in the sample.