 |
|||
 |
detecting HIV before seroconversion |
||
| ||||||
Question:For people with known or presumed HIV exposure, who may have experienced symptoms of an acute viral syndrome, can viral load study be accurately used to detect infection with HIV prior to seroconversion?Dr. Pavia's Response:Studies report that 50-90% of people experience some symptoms of acute HIV infection, the so-called acute seroconversion illness or primary infection syndrome. Most of these are sick enough to seek medical care, but because the symptoms are often non-specific and overlap with flu-like illnesses and mononucleosis, and because providers often don't think about it, the diagnosis is rarely made. Recent studies suggest that HIV RNA in the plasma is the first test to become positive, and current viral load tests will accurately detect RNA in the plasma well before the antibody test becomes positive (which is referred to as seroconversion).For people with known HIV exposure experiencing symptoms compatible with acute HIV infection, especially if they persist at least one weak, the best test in 1997 is probably a measure of viral load (either by bDNA, Roche PCR, or NASBA). Andrew T. Pavia, MD |
