To Zoom42 RNA vs DNA - TheBody.com's Bulletin Boards

Hi Zoom,

Before I begin, please understand I'm not a doctor or scientist. I'm someone who unfortunately has an
OCD issue with an exposure I had. The good thing about it is, I've spent a lot of time researching
every aspect of testing, from phone calls to lab technicians to surfing the net. With that said, only you
and a trained professional can make a decision as to the validity of what my opinion is and how it
applies to you...

When the virus enters your body it's in RNA form...but it needs to reproduce. To do this is infects
small white blood cells called lymphocytes and helper killer T cells. Once inside the cell, it does a lot
of things which I won't waste your time trying to explain, but the short of it is, it leaves a copy of its
DNA. Now we have a copy of the RNA in DNA form...the infected cell (DNA) now starts
producing thousands of RNA virus....thus those RNA viruses go out and infect more healthy WBC
and leave a copy of their DNA, hence the life cycle.

What an RNA PCR test looks for is the circulating virus in the plasma...free floating virus. When
you're infected during all stages you have thousands of these RNA particles floating around. An RNA
PCR test looks for these particles and tells us how many (in general) there are. If someone is on
antivirals, it is possible that their viral load will be undetectable...but it depends on the test. Some tests
test down to 50 particles per sample others 400. This test is used as a diagnostic tool if recent
infection is suspected, because early in the infection life-cycle 1-4 weeks, your body has no natural
antibodies and the virus runs rampant...this is what causes ARS. Once your body produces
antibodies, the virus level will level off, but is usually still detected.

A PCR DNA test looks for the DNA inside the WBC. It is also a qualitative test, meaning it doesn't
count the number, as it is only looking for one infected cell to be able to be positive. Even if there is
undetectable RNA, the DNA inside the WBC will still be positive, this is why this test is used for
diagnostic purposes for HIV. Now before I get yelled at here...neither PCR test is approved for
diagnostic tests by the FDA except in infants. But it is not against the law to use them that way,
because that are approved by CLIA, which is the government organization that oversees labs and
testing. The reason why the FDA has not approved this test is because for mass screening it would
NOT have the same gold standard...why? Both tests are very complicated to perform, and not very
rapid as they take up to 7 hrs to complete. They are also VERY sensitive and have a higher rate of
false positives...you'd have about 5 out of 100 you would show positive but really be negative. They
also have a slightly higher rate that ELSIA of false negatives...around 1%, an ELISA is 99.9% where
as a PCR DNA is 99%...which means on avg., you'll get 1 out of 100 that are positive but will read
negative.

If someone KNOWS they have had a risky exposure to someone who has HIV and are experiencing
ARS symptoms, then either test is fine for ruling in or out infection. If someone is having a ton of
mental anguish over any type of exposure then it's my opinion that the tests serve a good purpose for
mental well being. With all that said, it's also my opinion that you should back up any test with an
ELISA at 3 and 6 months for confirmation. As you "might" see, I'll get called every name in the book
for saying this, but to me, the chance of infecting others, if one has been exposed, is too much of a
burden, that it's good to eliminate all doubts.

You might find this link useful: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/aids/action.html

Hope this helps

Peace
Shane

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