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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Amplifying and Quantifying HIV-1 RNA in HIV Infected Individuals with Viral Loads Below the Limit of Detection by Standard Clinical Assays
Published on: September 26, 2011
Molecular Diagnosis of HIV-1 by PCR
1Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
Abstract:
Most individuals can be diagnosed as being infected with HIV-1 with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA), which detects antibodies to the virus. Repeatedly positive results must be confirmed, usually by Western blot. These assays have been improved since their introduction in 1985. When used together, the EIA and Western blot are now extremely reliable, with sensitivities of 99.5% and specificities of 99.8% for the diagnosis of HIV-1 (1). These tests are fairly rapid, reproducible across laboratories, well quality-controlled, relatively inexpensive, and form the basis of the protection of the blood supply.
