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. 2020 Jun 1;34(7):1089-1092.
doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000002546.

Performing rapid autopsy for the interrogation of HIV reservoirs

Stephen A Rawlings  1 , Laura Layman  1 , Davey Smith  1   2 , Brianna Scott  1 , Caroline Ignacio  1 , Magali Porrachia  2 , Susanna Concha-Garcia  1 , Steven Hendrickx  1 , Andy Kaytes  3 , Jeff Taylor  3   4 , Sara Gianella  1   2
Affiliations

Performing rapid autopsy for the interrogation of HIV reservoirs

Stephen A Rawlings et al. AIDS. .

Abstract

: Rapid autopsy at the end of life in people with HIV (PWH) permits the preservation of valuable tissue specimens for subsequent study of HIV reservoirs. At our institution, we have developed a cohort of PWH who consent to a rapid autopsy to gather a wide range of fluids and tissues with the goal of advancing HIV cure research. The protocol for successfully performing these autopsies has required careful thought and development over months and years. We have now successfully performed six rapid autopsies and detail here our steps to build the study cohort, train and staff a team of more than a dozen personnel, and process and preserve hundreds of samples from each autopsy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.. Schematic and photos of autopsy layout.
(a) Shows the general setup of the morgue during rapid autopsy. Personnel abbreviations (also given in Table S2, http://links.lww.com/QAD/B713) are as follows: Cryo, cryopreservation technician; Cttr, cutter; Dn, diener; Hgz, homegenizer; OT, optimal cutting temperature compound (OCT) technician; RAC, rapid autopsy coordinator; Rn, runner; SpH, specimen handler. (b) Shows the cutting guide used during autopsy. Tissue needs to be sectioned according to this guide for adequate penetration of preservative (e.g. RNAlater and Trizol) and tissue sectioning. Photos are of the cutting table, (c), close-up of cutting setup (d) and the general morgue setup (e).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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