Hi Dr. Holodniy,

DNA PCR testing really intrigues me. Assuming there was no lab error and it is not a rare virus strain the test cannot detect, in a truly infected person, what factors would cause a DNA PCR to show negative after 3 months? If it's actually measuring viral DNA integrated into a persons blood cells, after 1-2 months it seems like this test would be positive (qualitatively speaking) for life. Do you feel DNA PCR testing is more valuable/useful than RNA PCR testing during pre-seroconversion? (I came across one post which you said the DNA PCR would still be positive in an infected person even if their viral load was below an amount detectable by RNA PCR testing.) Thanks for your time!

I will not comment on performance. In HIV antibody positive people, I am not aware of a DNA PCR being negative. There can indeed be people who are infected, have evidence of HIV antibody's, be DNA PCR positive and have undetectable HIV RNA (viral loads).