PCR-DNA tests are not approved diagnostic tests.
Dears,
i have recived my PCR rtest results and it is like the following , does this mean that i am infected with HIV
< 34 IU/ml
< 1.5 log IU/ml
so can any body help me wit the results? what does they mean?
i want to add i am still waiting for the 12 weeks test, since my exposure was on 24th of september.
can anyone help me with the results
Dears,
i have recived my PCR rtest results and it is like the following , does this mean that i am infected with HIV
< 34 IU/ml
< 1.5 log IU/ml
so can any body help me wit the results? what does they mean?
i want to add i am still waiting for the 12 weeks test, since my exposure was on 24th of september.
can anyone help me with the results
thanks alot mike,
really appreciate your comment
i guess i will have ot pray alot , so nothing could be detected at the test
thanks again
Hey Vance, no issues :)
I think I just found couple of link of relevance -
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/BloodBloodProducts/ApprovedProducts/LicensedProductsBLAs/BloodDonorScreening/InfectiousDisease/ucm093985.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/testing/resources/qa/be_tested.htm#wait
Thank you Mike for giving the poster and myself some newer info that I was not aware of.
You were administered an RNA PCR - Quantitative analysis NAAT test.
PCRs are very sensitive in nature, the RT- RNA PCRs available today are capable of detecting as low as 5 copies / 100 ml, 72 hour post exposure, this test looks for the genetic material of HIV directly and only gets better with time, considering the replication system of the HIV virus in most cases, it multiplies in thousands every day that only implies that an RNA PCR in the intermidiate phase 10-14 days post exposure is successful in detecting the infection if it was caused at the first place.
I will not get in to the reasoning part of your doctor's choice to administer you on this test despite of no indicative symptoms or high risk exposure. However, will certainly tell you that the time frame you took this test is right and is the correct test when it comes to the PCR / NAT / NAAT.
Also, In 2006, RNA PCR test was approved by FDA for diagnostic purpose. However, it is not a stand-alone test, an "undetected" test result has to be backed by an anti-body at the 12th week. (An undetected PCR result changing, if taken at the right time frame is very unlikely) (I can't find the FDA link, but I will post it once I find it)
Now coming to false positives, let me give you some thing besides what a lot of "Copy - Paste" jing bang wouldn't agree to. However, practically can be justified - False positives are a concern of yesteryears, I am not saying it doesn't happen any more but, the ratio has dropped considerably, the testing technology has developed, methodologies have changed. If you yeild a false positive, your blood sample would be re-tested with out even your knowledge for confirmatory reason to avoid any scope of false detection.
I recon that you are awaiting your test result, I wish you good luck. I feel it's very unlikely that you will contract any thing from this one episode of penetrative sex, you should be fine. Just ensure that you back your "undetected" PCR result with one AB test at the 12th week, I promise, it won't change.
Best of luck.
That test is not approved for diagnostics. If you had unprotected vaginal or anal sex then an antibody test should be preformed at 3 months post exposure.
While the PCR test may give an early indication it does have a higher then normal false positive rate and as I said not approved for diagnostic means.