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What Do My PCR Test Reports Indicate?
Question: Hi doctor, i am going through a difficult phase mentaly. I had a risky exposure to hiv around 6 weeks back. It was a low risk exposure. I got antibody rapid test, whic was negative after 5 weeks. Then i came to know that these rapid test are conclusive only after 3 months. Then people at srl lab suggested me to go for pcr viral load test. Attached is the repoort which i got today. I am nit able to interprate this report. It is showing <72. And also written that lower limit for test is 72. Now it is very confusing. I know this is not the right test for screening. Plz tell me what i should interprete from this report. Am i hiv positive or negative based on attached report. Plz tell me the detail interpretation of my pcr result report. Laboratory personal said its negative, but he could not give me a convincing answer. My worry is if it is negative then why it showing viral load result as <72. Will it always show like this on any normal person
Brief Answer:
You are almost free from HIV 1 infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
HIV PCR test are highly reliable 3-4 weeks after the exposure. You had RNA Quantitative PCR. It is not very much useful for the diagnosis but rather to assess the prognosis of the disease.
Anyhow, If there is an infection, in the early days the viral load will be very high. When it is not able to detect any virus 5 weeks after the exposure that means that you are free from HIV 1 infection.
You can either have a P24 antigen test now (to rule out HIV 1infection) or a 4th generation test after 12 weeks to rule out both HIV 1 and 2 conclusively.
Dr S.Murugan
You are almost free from HIV 1 infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
HIV PCR test are highly reliable 3-4 weeks after the exposure. You had RNA Quantitative PCR. It is not very much useful for the diagnosis but rather to assess the prognosis of the disease.
Anyhow, If there is an infection, in the early days the viral load will be very high. When it is not able to detect any virus 5 weeks after the exposure that means that you are free from HIV 1 infection.
You can either have a P24 antigen test now (to rule out HIV 1infection) or a 4th generation test after 12 weeks to rule out both HIV 1 and 2 conclusively.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks sir, your reply helped in easing my anxiety. Now i am feeling relieved. But sir one confusion remains, why result is showing <72. does it mean that there is virus in my body which is less than<72. or does this test will always show the result as <72 when done on any normal hiv negative individual. plz tell me the logic behind the result <72.
Brief Answer:
Undetectable viral load means either there is no virus or well undercontro
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
HIV RNA PCR is a quantitative test used to assess the prognosis of the patients on treatment. It can not derect the viral copies below 72 copies. But if the individual who have not exposed to HIV or not infected also will show the results in a similar way.
If you still not convinced then you can take 4th generation test in which the P24 antigen part will clearly rule out HIV 1 infection by 4 weeks. As you crossed 4 weeks you can take up the test.
DR S.Murugan
Undetectable viral load means either there is no virus or well undercontro
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
HIV RNA PCR is a quantitative test used to assess the prognosis of the patients on treatment. It can not derect the viral copies below 72 copies. But if the individual who have not exposed to HIV or not infected also will show the results in a similar way.
If you still not convinced then you can take 4th generation test in which the P24 antigen part will clearly rule out HIV 1 infection by 4 weeks. As you crossed 4 weeks you can take up the test.
DR S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
sir, i am totally convinced by your replies
your every word is a great source of assurance for me. All this confusion came up, when a paramedical professional told me that my pcr result ,,(<72)might indicate presence of virus. it increased my anxiety. but now i am convinced. Just to rephrase what you written, so every negative individual who take this pcr test will get the same result which is<72, right??.
your every word is a great source of assurance for me. All this confusion came up, when a paramedical professional told me that my pcr result ,,(<72)might indicate presence of virus. it increased my anxiety. but now i am convinced. Just to rephrase what you written, so every negative individual who take this pcr test will get the same result which is<72, right??.
Brief Answer:
You are free from HIV
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Exactly you are right.
If you do the test for a child who has not at all exposed to any type of sexual activity, the HIV RNA PCR result will come like this only. Undetectable viral load means either there is no infection or the individual is well under control with the treatment.
Highly reliable test. So you need not worry.
Dr S Murugan
You are free from HIV
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Exactly you are right.
If you do the test for a child who has not at all exposed to any type of sexual activity, the HIV RNA PCR result will come like this only. Undetectable viral load means either there is no infection or the individual is well under control with the treatment.
Highly reliable test. So you need not worry.
Dr S Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks sir, as per your direction, i have got tested with combo tested and you were right it came negative. Attached is the report for the same. It was done after 6 weeks of exposure. So now based on these two test report, can i move on with my life normally.
Brief Answer:
You are free from HIV 1 infection beyond any doubt.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Once again I affirm you that you are free from HIV 1 infection.
HIV Combo test comprises of two parts. Detecting the P24 Antigen of HIV 1 and detecting the antibodies against both HIV 1 and 2. Here with this test also, detection of antigen part would be conclusive by 3-4 weeks whereas the detection of antibodies against HIV 1 and 2 will become conclusive after the window period for HIV disease (6-8 weeks, may be delayed up to 12 weeks). So your negative HIV Combo test by 6 weeks once again ruled out HIV 1 infection and not HIV 2 infection.
But at the same time HIV 1 infection is common up to above 99% throughout the world except few parts in XXXXXXX HIV 2 is prevalent less than 0.5 %. So the chances are very very remote.
Anyway my advice would be you can resume unprotected sex with your spouse after repeating the test once again after 12 weeks to be sure that you are free from both HIV 1 and 2. At the sametime rule out the possibility of STDs with appropriate tests before resuming your sex life.
Dr S.Murugan
You are free from HIV 1 infection beyond any doubt.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Once again I affirm you that you are free from HIV 1 infection.
HIV Combo test comprises of two parts. Detecting the P24 Antigen of HIV 1 and detecting the antibodies against both HIV 1 and 2. Here with this test also, detection of antigen part would be conclusive by 3-4 weeks whereas the detection of antibodies against HIV 1 and 2 will become conclusive after the window period for HIV disease (6-8 weeks, may be delayed up to 12 weeks). So your negative HIV Combo test by 6 weeks once again ruled out HIV 1 infection and not HIV 2 infection.
But at the same time HIV 1 infection is common up to above 99% throughout the world except few parts in XXXXXXX HIV 2 is prevalent less than 0.5 %. So the chances are very very remote.
Anyway my advice would be you can resume unprotected sex with your spouse after repeating the test once again after 12 weeks to be sure that you are free from both HIV 1 and 2. At the sametime rule out the possibility of STDs with appropriate tests before resuming your sex life.
Dr S.Murugan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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