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TEAK- Technical Question
I know what your thinking, no I'm not going to go off on another rampage of questions. I meant to ask you this earlier and forgot.
When I had a PCR RNA at Labcorp, it was for HIV-1. First, does this test that Labcorp uses look for all the subtypes of HIV-1 including O? Second, I never had a PCR RNA for HIV-2. Is HIV-2 a concern in the U.S? I'm not sure what manufacturer Labcorp uses but it measures from 48-10,000,000 copies...if this helps.
Thanks Man
When I had a PCR RNA at Labcorp, it was for HIV-1. First, does this test that Labcorp uses look for all the subtypes of HIV-1 including O? Second, I never had a PCR RNA for HIV-2. Is HIV-2 a concern in the U.S? I'm not sure what manufacturer Labcorp uses but it measures from 48-10,000,000 copies...if this helps.
Thanks Man
The strains of HIV-1 can be classified into three groups: the "major" group M, the "outlier" group O and the "new" group N. These three groups may represent three separate introductions of simian immunodeficiency virus into humans.
Group O appears to be restricted to west-central Africa and group N - discovered in 1998 in Cameroon - is extremely rare. More than 90% of HIV-1 infections belong to HIV-1 group M and, unless specified, the rest of this page will relate to HIV-1 group M only.
Within group M there are known to be at least nine genetically distinct subtypes (or clades) of HIV-1. These are subtypes A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J and K.
Occasionally, two viruses of different subtypes can meet in the cell of an infected person and mix together their genetic material to create a new hybrid virus (a process similar to sexual reproduction, and sometimes called "viral sex").1 Many of these new strains do not survive for long, but those that infect more than one person are known as "circulating recombinant forms" or CRFs. For example, the CRF A/B is a mixture of subtypes A and B.
The classification of HIV strains into subtypes and CRFs is a complex issue and the definitions are subject to change as new discoveries are made. Some scientists talk about subtypes A1, A2, A3, F1 and F2 instead of A and F, though others regard the former as sub-subtypes.
Group O appears to be restricted to west-central Africa and group N - discovered in 1998 in Cameroon - is extremely rare. More than 90% of HIV-1 infections belong to HIV-1 group M and, unless specified, the rest of this page will relate to HIV-1 group M only.
Within group M there are known to be at least nine genetically distinct subtypes (or clades) of HIV-1. These are subtypes A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J and K.
Occasionally, two viruses of different subtypes can meet in the cell of an infected person and mix together their genetic material to create a new hybrid virus (a process similar to sexual reproduction, and sometimes called "viral sex").1 Many of these new strains do not survive for long, but those that infect more than one person are known as "circulating recombinant forms" or CRFs. For example, the CRF A/B is a mixture of subtypes A and B.
The classification of HIV strains into subtypes and CRFs is a complex issue and the definitions are subject to change as new discoveries are made. Some scientists talk about subtypes A1, A2, A3, F1 and F2 instead of A and F, though others regard the former as sub-subtypes.
Answer- based on Labcorp supervisor. The Roche system they use detects the RNA for HIV-1 group M and the subtypes. I don't think it is sensitive to Group N and O. However, these are almost non-existent in the U.S.
Good Questions, I did the same test ,PCR RNA REAL TIME ...in 8 months time,with undetectable result.
i ve seen many many Drs and Lab technicians but just few of them realize that what kind of test they have ,but all of them could not explain it correctly and understandable.
ELISA for Antibody and PCR for Virus itself ,that s what they know.
i assume even experts and specialists are confused ,believe me
i ve seen many many Drs and Lab technicians but just few of them realize that what kind of test they have ,but all of them could not explain it correctly and understandable.
ELISA for Antibody and PCR for Virus itself ,that s what they know.
i assume even experts and specialists are confused ,believe me
I'm still a little confused on this. Can you read my last couple replies and just clarify the only question that I really have.
If the PCR RNA test looks for RNA for HIV-1, does this mean that it can identify all the strains of HIV-1 RNA? In other words, a person can be confident that if they had HIV-1 (regardless of the group or subtype) the test would be able to pick up on the RNA in the cell.
This is really all I wanted to know and it got a little confusing. Your final thoughts are appreciated and I'm done. Thanks
If the PCR RNA test looks for RNA for HIV-1, does this mean that it can identify all the strains of HIV-1 RNA? In other words, a person can be confident that if they had HIV-1 (regardless of the group or subtype) the test would be able to pick up on the RNA in the cell.
This is really all I wanted to know and it got a little confusing. Your final thoughts are appreciated and I'm done. Thanks
OK, so what you are saying is the VL tests that are used look for virus RNA in the cell within the various HIV-1 groups (M,N,and O). I'm just trying to understand if the various subtypes may have different RNA makeup and not be detected unless the test is designed to pick up all the slightly different strains.
Botton line, if someone has HIV it is most likely to be HIV-1. Would the VL tests used today find the RNA for HIV-1 regardless of the group or subtype?
Botton line, if someone has HIV it is most likely to be HIV-1. Would the VL tests used today find the RNA for HIV-1 regardless of the group or subtype?
It doesn't matter what subtype in group M it is. The test look for the virus rna in cell. You need to forget about the subtypes.
Just to make sure I'm not confusing myself...If a test looks for RNA regarding HIV-1, this must mean certain groups and possible even subtypes within the HIV-1 family. If someone have HIV-1, they must fall into one of the groups. If it is the M group (which is likely), then they must fall into a subtype.
So if the VL test looks for RNA in the HIV-1 family, does it find RNA for any type or group within HIV-1. Specifically what is included?
So if the VL test looks for RNA in the HIV-1 family, does it find RNA for any type or group within HIV-1. Specifically what is included?
I don't really understand your thoughts fully. When the test reads PCR RNA for HIV-1...what is the test looking for specifically regarding the groups and subtypes?
In other words, HIV-1 is broken down into the groups...which group or groups does the VL test detect? In addition, if it is designed to detect group M- I would imagine this means it can detect most or all the subtypes within that group.
I
In other words, HIV-1 is broken down into the groups...which group or groups does the VL test detect? In addition, if it is designed to detect group M- I would imagine this means it can detect most or all the subtypes within that group.
I
virus rna's in each cell. Really there is no reason. You are not going to get treatment any quicker.
So what specifically does the HIV-1 PCR RNA test look for? HIV-1 w/ groups M,N,O?
I guess I'm just trying to fully understand what the VL can pick up. Is it the main groups (M,N,O) and M's subtypes within HIV-1? If not, what the heck is the point of the test.
I guess I'm just trying to fully understand what the VL can pick up. Is it the main groups (M,N,O) and M's subtypes within HIV-1? If not, what the heck is the point of the test.
HIV1 and HIV2 are types
M-N and O are groups
A,B,C,D,F,G,H,J,K and CRFs are all subtypes of group M which are all from HIV Type 1.
M-N and O are groups
A,B,C,D,F,G,H,J,K and CRFs are all subtypes of group M which are all from HIV Type 1.
After thinking about this again, I thought there are 3 major subtypes under HIV-1...M,N, and O. O is extremely rare in U.S., N is newer and isn't as much of a concern, M is the main type and I beleive it has additional subtypes too, right?
So what the heck does a PCR RNA for HIV-1 look for? I'm hoping it is M, the main group and all the types under it.
So what the heck does a PCR RNA for HIV-1 look for? I'm hoping it is M, the main group and all the types under it.
Since it doesn't look for subtypes, does it still pick up the most prominent HIV
Maybe I'm a little confused. Does HIV-1 have subtypes? Or are the subtypes not classified as HIV-1 but something else?
Bottom line, does the tests pick up the HIV virus effectively based on what type of HIV someone would be concerned about in the U.S?
Maybe I'm a little confused. Does HIV-1 have subtypes? Or are the subtypes not classified as HIV-1 but something else?
Bottom line, does the tests pick up the HIV virus effectively based on what type of HIV someone would be concerned about in the U.S?
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