HIV-1 RNA Viral load by Taqman RT PCR in Malad

The test helps determine the prognosis of the patient by calculating the baseline HIV-1 RNA level or monitoring the impact of antiretroviral treatment by measuring changes in HIV-1 RNA levels during the course of the treatment with antiretroviral medicines.

It is important to note that HIV-1 Viral load by Taqman Plasma (Quantitative) cannot be considered as a screening test for the presence of HIV-1 in blood or as a diagnostic test to ascertain the presence of HIV-1 infection.

This test is proposed for

• Use in combination with clinical presentation and other laboratory tests to assess the progress of the disease for the management of HIV-1 group M and HIV-1 group O infected patients.
• Quantitating HIV-1 RNA over certain ranges in EDTA plasma and a PSC dried plasma.
• Monitoring the progress of disease and the effect of change in antiretroviral therapy. Some patients may require this test as an indication of the T cell function before surgical procedures.

HIV is the main causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV is of two types:

• HIV-1 causes almost all cases of AIDS globally.
• HIV-2 causes an AIDS-like illness, it is generally found in North America.

This infection is transmitted by sexual contact, contact with infected blood or blood products, or by transmission to the fetus from an infected mother. Infected individuals usually develop flu-like symptoms along with a high viral load in the peripheral blood within three to six weeks of exposure to HIV. This phase is succeeded by an HIV-specific immune response and reduced plasma viral load within four to six weeks of the onset of symptoms.

Infected patients after seroconversion get into an asymptomatic phase that can last for years. This asymptomatic period is described as persistent, low-level plasma viral load with a slow decline in CD4+T lymphocytes, leading to a severe immune-compromised state resulting in multiple opportunistic infections, cancer and ultimately death.

Quantitative measurements of HIV viral load in the peripheral blood suggest that higher virus levels are associated with high risk of progression of HIV disease whereas reductions in plasma virus levels are related to low risk of progression of the disease.