HIV Quantitative PCR (Viral Load)

Microbiology

For determination of active ongoing infection, monitoring of longer term disease progression and response to antiviral therapies.

Blood sample (plasma)

Pink top EDTA (6ml)

Samples from patients known to have blood transmissible viral infections should be clearly labelled “High Risk” or “Danger of Infection”.

Local test

7 days

Viral loads will be reported in copies/ml and where appropriate a log will be given.

Lower limit of detection 20 copies/ml

Lower limit of quantification 20 copies/ml