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Is HIV Test Done 18 Months Post Exposure Conclusive?
Question: hello sir,
i have got two hiv tests 18 months post my unprotected exposure.first one was HIV 1 & 2 ELISA which came back as negative.The second one was HIV -1 RNA Real time quantitative PCR whose report came back as "TARGET NOT DETECTED", but it also had mentioned <97 copies/ml and <165 IU/ml
Limit of detection was 120 IU/ml to 1*10^8 IU/ml.
does it mean that i have got the virus?But if that's then why have they mentioned TARGET NOT DETECTED.? plz answer,i m freaking out.
i have got two hiv tests 18 months post my unprotected exposure.first one was HIV 1 & 2 ELISA which came back as negative.The second one was HIV -1 RNA Real time quantitative PCR whose report came back as "TARGET NOT DETECTED", but it also had mentioned <97 copies/ml and <165 IU/ml
Limit of detection was 120 IU/ml to 1*10^8 IU/ml.
does it mean that i have got the virus?But if that's then why have they mentioned TARGET NOT DETECTED.? plz answer,i m freaking out.
Brief Answer:
You are free from HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Welcome to HCM.
You had unprotected sex with someone but the test result for HIV after 18 months of exposure is negative then the result is considered as 100% conclusive and you are absolutely free from HIV because the window period for HIV infection also varies from 15 days to 3 months.
The value for RNA PCR is just for reference but it doesn't mean that you are carrying the virus so calm down, XXXXXXX the fear and forget aboput the episode. Be relaxed and move on in your life happily. For any further query feel free to ask and I am here to help you out.
Thank You
You are free from HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Welcome to HCM.
You had unprotected sex with someone but the test result for HIV after 18 months of exposure is negative then the result is considered as 100% conclusive and you are absolutely free from HIV because the window period for HIV infection also varies from 15 days to 3 months.
The value for RNA PCR is just for reference but it doesn't mean that you are carrying the virus so calm down, XXXXXXX the fear and forget aboput the episode. Be relaxed and move on in your life happily. For any further query feel free to ask and I am here to help you out.
Thank You
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
but sir i have read somewhere that normal range for viral load copies through RNA PCR should be less than 40 copies/ml or less than 75 copies/ml but in my report result came as less than 97 copies/ml but still they have mentioned in the end "TARGET NOT DETECTED".This is what concerns me that it did not came as less than 40 copies/ml.what could be the reason for this?
Brief Answer:
The value has not of much significance.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Welcome back and thanks for follow-up.
The reference value for RNA PCR is less than 40 copies but up to 100 copies the result is highly reliable so no need to get worried or tensed as the risk is not there in your case so be relaxed, forget the episode and move on in life happily.
Thank You
The value has not of much significance.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Welcome back and thanks for follow-up.
The reference value for RNA PCR is less than 40 copies but up to 100 copies the result is highly reliable so no need to get worried or tensed as the risk is not there in your case so be relaxed, forget the episode and move on in life happily.
Thank You
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
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