PCR analysis for HIV: what is it for and how is it done?

HIV – the human immunodeficiency virus is the cause of the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in humans. One of the conditions for effective treatment of the disease is early diagnosis. HIV PCR is a method that gives the most accurate results in detecting a dangerous disease in a person. If a person plans to undergo PRC tests for HIV, their price in paid clinics can be high. However, under no circumstances should we abandon research.

What is PCR?

Polymerase chain reaction is an accurate method for detecting infections. It is based on the isolation and study of genetic material - DNA and RNA. When using the HIV PCR method, blood, saliva, sputum and genital secretions are taken as biological materials.

The PCR test for HIV and other diseases detects the pathogen even with a minimal number of its cells. Sometimes PCR diagnostics of HIV can detect a problem in the presence of single cells of the virus.

During the PCR analysis for HIV, the pathogenic organism, its nature, as well as the degree of impact on the body are determined. The information obtained about the HIV viral load by PCR is important when choosing a treatment method and drug. Today, this type of diagnosis makes it possible to detect almost all known viral pathologies, even those that can remain in the body for years and not manifest themselves.

Why is a PCR test needed?

This test is key to diagnosing a large number of diseases. PCR for HIV and other pathologies accurately detects the presence of pathogenic organisms - viruses and fungi. Therefore, an analysis is prescribed for any suspicion of an infectious bacterial or viral disease.

The polymerase chain reaction test is also necessary to detect mutated bacteria and viruses and cancer cells.

The PCR test is the gold standard for early diagnosis of infectious diseases. The accuracy of PCR testing for HIV reaches 99.8% in the best laboratories. The cost of HIV PCR in clinics that provide such high results can be quite high. However, it is precisely the ultra-precise test results that are the key to successful treatment.

There are certain categories of people who are tested for HIV using the PCR method:

1. Children born to infected mothers in the first two days of life. In this case, umbilical cord blood is not examined. Repeated PCR testing for HIV is done for an infant at the age of one and a half to two months, provided there is no breastfeeding - from 4 to 6 months. When conducting repeated HIV PCR tests, the price of tests may vary;
2. Persons in the incubation period. How much HIV PCR is done depends on the characteristics of the patient’s body and the laboratory. It should be remembered that the incubation period of this disease can last for years. Since the reliability of HIV PCR is high, the analysis can detect even minimal virus activity;
3. Pregnant women who have had or have infected partners and have not been examined before;
4. Drug users, including pregnant women who have used or are using drugs. The price of HIV PCR analysis for such people is no different;
5. For persons who have questionable results of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, HIV PCR is required. The same applies to individuals who have a false-positive HIV PCR test. In this case, the analysis is repeated after a month or a month and a half. The accuracy of the result and the adequacy of the prescribed treatment depend on how long it takes to make a PCR diagnosis of HIV during a repeat examination.

How is the diagnosis done?

HIV PCR diagnostics are done for:

• qualitative determination of proviral DNA of the virus;
• qualitative and quantitative determination of viral RNA.

Results should be expected depending on how much HIV PCR is done.

The main laboratory marker of the severity and progression of human immunodeficiency virus is the quantification of viral RNA (ie, viral load). It makes it possible to monitor the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs.

Blood for analysis is taken from a vein. If a PCR test for HIV is scheduled, preparation for it should be as thorough as possible so that the results are correct.

Blood for this laboratory test must be donated on an empty stomach. The minimum break in eating is 8 hours (it is recommended to further increase this period to 12 hours). It happens that the patient does not have the opportunity to visit the laboratory in the morning. In this case, the biomaterial is given after a six-hour break in food intake.

Before donating venous blood, it is necessary to exclude factors that negatively affect the examination results. First of all, this is physical stress (playing sports, lifting weights, running and even climbing stairs). If such factors occurred, then before donating blood you should be in a calm environment for at least half an hour.

Blood should not be donated in a state of strong psycho-emotional arousal. The day before, it is advisable to avoid watching action-packed films and TV shows. At this time, it is necessary to protect yourself from any stress factors.

2 days before the examination, you need to exclude fatty, fried foods and especially alcohol from the menu. Otherwise, PCR diagnostics of HIV will show incorrect results. It happens that there was a feast the day before. In this case, you need to inform your doctor and reschedule the blood draw for a day or two. The day before the test you should also refrain from smoking.

Blood must be donated before starting antibiotics or chemotherapy. If treatment with these drugs has taken place, then PCR diagnosis of HIV is postponed by approximately 2 weeks. The time required for HIV PCR testing may increase.

How and where is the analysis done?

Many people are interested in how much a PCR test for HIV costs and where to get a PCR test for HIV. It can be taken at any clinic or public hospital. In AIDS treatment centers, the test is done free of charge and anonymously: the question of how much a PCR test for HIV costs does not make sense here. The price of HIV PCR in a private clinic may vary depending on the region and the prestige of the diagnostic center. You can get the test result at the centers by calling the number that was provided during the blood draw.

Clients are interested in how much PCR testing for HIV is done. Typically, test results are expected from 2 to 10 days, sometimes a little longer.

A negative HIV PCR result does not require additional consultation: it indicates that everything is fine. When performing tests for infectious diseases, incl. PCR for HIV, preparation should take into account the state of the immune system. If the period of infection is short, the results may show a negative result. To clarify the diagnosis, it is worth taking another HIV test using the PCR method in a month or two.

If a positive result is obtained, the doctor recommends that the patient contact an AIDS treatment center. Treatment of HIV-positive Russian citizens is free. The price of HIV PCR may increase in private clinics.

It should be taken into account that different laboratories, clinics and medical centers may use different examination methods and units of measurement of results. Their assessment will be correct if tests are taken at the same institution all the time and, preferably, at the same time. Then the comparison of results will be correct, and the diagnosis will be accurate. The method of treatment and its result will depend on this.

The polymerase chain reaction method is indispensable for the accurate diagnosis of viral diseases. If your doctor recommends undergoing such a diagnosis, you do not need to refuse it.