Standardized microtiter assay for determination of syncytium-inducing phenotypes of clinical human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates

A standardized assay in 96-well microtiter plates for syncytium-inducing (SI) human immunodeficiency virus type 1 phenotype detection using MT-2 cells has been developed. SI variants were found in 67% of the patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus disease. The occurrence of the SI phenotype increased with lower CD4+ counts. There was no association between p24 antigenemia and the SI phenotype.