HIV 2 Viral Load Test

The various indications for getting hiv 2 viral load test done are:

• Once a person is diagnosed with HIV, he should undergo this test to get a baseline measurement of viral load in plasma. This will help the doctor to compare his results after the treatment with the earlier viral load.
• This test can guide your doctor in implementing changes in your medication course.
• This test can also determine how effective your antiretroviral treatment is.

However, it is important to note that if your viral load remains undetected after the course of the treatment, it does not indicate that you are cured. The virus has the tendency to survive in various cells in the body, but infected patients with undetectable load have normal, or near-normal life span. Moreover, these patients should continue to take their medicine as prescribed to keep the virus role undetectable.

While there is no effective and definite cure for HIV, most people can control the virus replication within six months of receiving proper treatment therapy.

Your healthcare provider can ask you to take this test to confirm a diagnosis of monoinfection by HIV-2 or coinfection with HIV-1. This diagnosis can guide the treatment plan.
HIV 2 viral load test for HIV-2 DNA detection is also crucial for the early detection of infection in infants born to HIV-2-seropositive mothers.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) is a lentivirus, a retrovirus similar to the genus as HIV-1. This has an endemic status in West Africa, where it was first isolated. Other regions that have a majority of cases include the northeastern United States. However, there are several reports that have indicated the presence of HIV-2 infection in India too.

HIV-2 infection in contrast to HIV-1 infection has a slower rate of progression, low viral load, slower rates of decline in CD4 cell count, and lower rates of transmission. This low viral load may not be appropriately measured with methods used in the past and the RT-PCR test is considered a much more sensitive test.

It has been estimated that up to 95% of HIV-2 in infected individuals do not have long-term complications, and patients with undiagnosed HIV-2 viral load have similar survival rates as that of the normal individual. However, it can cause AIDS with the same signs, symptoms, and opportunistic infections observed in HIV-1.

The HIV-2 viral load test is a diagnostic assay that detects and quantifies the amount of HIV-2 RNA in your blood plasma. It uses real-time PCR technology to measure the viral particles, helping assess the severity of infection and monitor treatment efficacy.

Home sample collection is available for the HIV-2 viral load test. A trained phlebotomist collects blood samples at your home, ensuring high standards of sample handling and accuracy.

Normal levels for HIV 2 viral load test are considered "not detected" or "undetectable," meaning the viral load is below the assay's detection limit, usually less than 50-100 copies/mL. Detectable levels range from 10 to 100,000 copies/mL plasma.

The HIV-2 viral load test is used to confirm HIV-2 infection, monitor viral load in known cases, assess the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy, and detect early infection in infants born to HIV-2-seropositive mothers.

The frequency of testing for the HIV-2 viral load test depends on your specific condition and treatment plan. Your healthcare provider will determine the appropriate testing schedule to monitor the effectiveness of your antiretroviral therapy.

There is no specific time requirement for the HIV-2 viral load test. However, it's essential to schedule the test as advised by your healthcare provider to align with your treatment monitoring schedule.

No, fasting is not required before undergoing the HIV-2 viral load test. You can follow your normal diet and medication routine unless instructed otherwise by your healthcare provider.

Before getting tested, follow instructions if provided by the healthcare provider regarding medication and other health conditions. Ensure the blood sample is collected, handled, and processed correctly to maintain its integrity for accurate results.

The primary parameter included in the HIV-2 viral load test is the number of HIV-2 RNA copies per millilitre of plasma. This value indicates the viral load and helps assess the severity of infection and treatment efficacy.

The HIV-2 viral load test should be done as advised by your healthcare provider. It is typically recommended to confirm diagnosis, monitor treatment progress, or detect early infection in high-risk individuals or infants born to HIV-2-seropositive mothers.

The HIV-2 viral load test itself does not take long, but the blood sample needs to be processed within 6 hours of collection. The overall turnaround time for results can vary but is typically within a few weeks.

Reports for the HIV-2 viral load test are usually available within 72 hours, based on the day/time of sample collection and processing.