Why Is Pcr Detection More Sensitive For Hiv Detection

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Ask the Experts

Western Blot Neg / DNA PCR Detected Yet Inderminant (ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHY PCR SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR ROUTINE HIV SCREENING, 2009)

After having unprotected oral sex only (3 weeks ago, with semen in my mouth) I got a fever, sore throat and my face broke out. I got tested one week ago. The "HIV-1 Antibody, Confirmation Western Blot" was negative. The "HIV 1/O/2...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hello,Yours is another prime example why PCR testing should not be used for routine HIV screening! Your HIV-acquisition risk is very small (oral sex). Consequently most likely you are not infected. My advice is to get an HIV-antibody test at the... Read more »

HIV PCR will it detect hiv?

HI, I had a HIV PCR test done after a sexual exposure 6 weeks prior.But now i have developed lumps... Read more »

Response from Ryan M. Kull, C.S.W »

Can the PCR detect the N strain of HIV

Can the PCR DNA detect the N strain of HIV.Why is it that the Elisa test after a window period of... Read more »

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C. »

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Articles

Innovative Rapid HIV Test Appears to Detect Acute HIV; OraQuick Rapid Saliva Tests Found to Be Not Very Accurate for High Risk Testers

My name's Chris Pilcher and I'm a HIV researcher from UCSF [University of California, San Francisco]. I'm principally interested in HIV diagnostics and particularly in detecting and managing acute HIV infection. The poster is appropriately titled,... Read more »

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

South Africa: Early Detection of TB Among HIV-Infected Could Avert Many Deaths

Early detection and treatment of TB among HIV-positive individuals could avert a significant number of deaths in South Africa, suggests a new report. Of 240 people ages 20-45 who died at a KwaZulu-Natal hospital in a recent 10-month period, 94... Read more »

Fourth Generation HIV Diagnostic Test Approved, Permitting Earlier Detection of Infection

On June 18, 2010, FDA approved a new, "4th generation" HIV diagnostic assay. The ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo Assay is the first HIV diagnostic assay that simultaneously detects both antigen and antibodies for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).... Read more »

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) May Detect Drug Failure

Are your antiretroviral drugs being properly absorbed into your body in order to suppress HIV? If antiretroviral therapy is not working in an individual who is 100-percent adherent to the regimen, drug monitoring of antiretroviral drugs may... Read more »

Connect With Others

PCR not detecting all strains of HIV?

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

As many worried persons, I took a PCR-RNA 4 weeks after my infection risk, to amend my fears. It came back negative. Although I should relax now, I'm still concerned, because I have read that all commercially available PCR-kits are just looking for... Read more »

HIV tests that detect the genetic material of HIV

Posted by nomoreworry4me

HIV tests that detect the genetic material of HIV itself (rather than antibodies or antigens) are known as PCR tests. PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction and is a common way of testing for a variety of different organisms. The overall process... Read more »

PCR sensitivity

Posted by GPPG, 1 Reply

For everyone I am posting the information I gathered about RNA/DNA testing's sensitivity ( i.e not reporting false negative),
1. RNA-PCR 90 - 98 % (depending on timing, immunse response, assay etc.)
2. bDNA little more sensitive
3. DNA-PCR > 99%
4.... Read more »

can an HIV-1 test detect HIV-2?

Posted by Anonymous, 5 Replies

I had several ELISA HIV 1 tests all negative (thank God). But now I'm wondering about HIV 2. Can the HIV 1 test detect HIV 2?

Thanks Read more »

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