![]() ![]() ![]() They can find as few as 20 copies of HIV RNA in a milliliter of blood. These RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction) tests are much more sensitive than HIV tests used in the past. This makes it easier to measure how much HIV is in your blood sample. They add an enzyme, a kind of protein, to make more copies of the RNA. HIV viral load tests look for RNA, the part of HIV that has the recipe for reproducing itself. It is possible if you adhere to your treatment to obtain a normal, or near-normal life expectancy. Keeping your viral load low will keep your immune system healthy, make complications of HIV less likely and help you live longer. However, in these cases, a subsequent positive HIV antibody test should be used to confirm the diagnosis. ![]() The test can also help diagnose recent HIV infection in someone with inconclusive HIV antibody tests. HIV viral load predicts how fast the disease will progress, while other tests, like the CD4 count, indicate how much damage the virus has already caused. Your test results help your doctor follow what's happening with your infection, how well your treatment is working, and guide treatment choices. The test measures the number of HIV copies in a milliliter of blood. Your viral load gives you an idea of how much of the HIV virus is in your body. ![]()
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