The HIV Specimen Repository is a collection of frozen plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) specimens donated by people living with HIV (PLWH) cared for at the University of Washington HIV clinics (the Madison and Roosevelt Virology Clinics).Participating patients are asked to voluntarily donate up to 34 mL of blood annually. Blood is separated into plasma and PBMC fractions and frozen in aliquots of 1.5 mL (plasma) or 5 million cells (PBMC) and stored at the Harborview Retrovirology Laboratory.
Coded clinical data extracted from the patients’ electronic medical record is linked to these repository specimens, enabling translational studies on the virologic, immunologic, genetic and demographic determinants of HIV disease and associated comorbidities.
In addition, a repository of more than 120,000, primarily blood-derived specimens are available from the Seattle Primary Infection Cohort (PIC). The PIC repository has specimens from individuals enrolled into longitudinal study while in primary or early HIV transmission.
Click here to find more information on subject – imposed restrictions on the registry.
Repository Subjects Profile and Specimen Collection
Any person who is cared for at the University of Washington HIV Clinics may join the Repository. We are particularly interested in recruiting people with the following clinical characteristics:
Newly diagnosed with HIV, defined as individuals who have contracted HIV within 1 year of enrollment.
PLWH who are antiretroviral-naïve (i.e., have never taken HIV medication).
If you are interested in using specimens in the Repository, please fill out a Request for UW HIV Information System (UWHIS) Data, Specimens and Referral Services form. Please contact the repository manager, Jordan Graff, by phone (206-744-4630) or email (jggraff@uw.edu) if you have any questions regarding the repository request process. Your request will be reviewed by the HIV Specimen Repository Steering Committee, and if your request is approved, we will make the appropriate arrangements to have the specimens and clinical data sent to you.
If you are interested in specimens from patients with acute HIV infection, specimens can be accessed from Seattle Primary Infection Clinic Repository available through the Retrovirology and Clinical Cohort and Comorbidity Research Core.
Download Repository Fee Calculator (Prices valid through June 30, 2023)