testing

hello Lizzie,  I thought there are 2 kinds of test there is a qualitative and a the one for monitoring.  I thaought the qualitative was to detect hiv please correct me if i am wrong.  the test for the detecting hiv is dna/rne qualitative real time pcr and or proviral dna qualitative pcr

[Teak]

Reread the one you asked the orginal question in. It's been answered.

[DDSCARED71]

by Edward W Hook, MD


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Edward W Hook, MD  
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Member since Oct 2007  



, Nov 13, 2008 04:54PM
Good question.  Laboratory tests can be quantitative or qualitative.  Qualitative tests give you a yes or no answer to whether something (like HIV) is present of not.  Quantitative tests for HIV tell you how much virus is present.  We use quantitative tests in caring for patients with HIV to judge how therapy is doing (it should reduce the amount of HIV virus present in blood), as well as, on some occasions, to monitor the progression of disease.  For figuring out if a person has HIV or not, qualitative tests are the way to go.  Just as you cannot be a little bit pregnant, you cannot be a little bit infected.  Either you are or are not.  

[Teak]

PCR tests have never been approved for diagnostic use, except in infants born to HIV positive mothers up to 15 months.

[DDSCARED71]

my accurence happened on 8/22/2008 elisa on 10/30/2008- non reactive
11/03/2008 hiv 2 dna/rna qualitative real time -not dected
11/03/2008 hiv-2 proviral dna qualitative, pcr - not deceted
means that im hiv neg.  no further testing needed?  i thought that i had to test again at 90 days and 6 months.
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by Edward W Hook, MD


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Edward W Hook, MD  
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Member since Oct 2007  



, Nov 13, 2008 05:38PM
You do not need repeat testing, your results are conclusive.  EWH




there for i need to test again?  im confused.  

[Teak]

I don't know what your risk was but those were not the proper test for diagnostic any one with a recent infection.

[DDSCARED71]

i had unprotected sex with a male.  on 8/22/2008.  i am a female.