The Importance of HIV RNA Detection

The reason that it is important to be able to detect HIV RNA is to better understand this gene. We need to learn more about this disease as well as monitor its progression for individuals who are living with this disease. Being able to detect the surrogate marker will help significantly to be able to see what the risks are for the HIV RNA. They can detect these surrogate markers by checking the quantitative HIV-1 RNA level in the plasma that they collect from the blood sample. They must have a viral load in order to accurately check for the surrogate markers. They are studying to see if Cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) HIV RNA may be associated with central nervous system(CNS) in people who are HIV infected.

Currently there are 2 types of HIV, HIV-1 and HIV-2 which are the only types to be able to infect humans. HIV-1 has been studies enough in order to figure out that they can isolate from individuals with other infectious diseases, such as, AIDS, AIDS related complex, and individuals that are at high risk for contracting AIDS. The reason that we need to know more about this disease is because it can spread easily and quickly. A lot of individuals may not know that they have it and can spread it through multiple ways of contact. It can be transmitted by sexual contact, being exposed to the infected persons blood, and from a pregnant mother to baby.

HIV RNA has been studied enough to know that HIV-1 and HIV-2 have very similar characteristics with its overall genomic structure to know that it is able to cause AIDS. With scientists being able to study the plasma of a viral load of HIV-1 that have seen a clear result for anti-HIV-1 therapy. The other reason that it is important to be able to detect HIV is to be able to help the mother baby before, during, after, the infected mother has her baby. Being able to have the understanding that we do now helps researchers to see we can use HIV RNA or DNA tests to detect the HIV in infants who are born to HIV infected mothers. There is a HIV serologic test however at this time it may be unreliable for infants to 2 years due to the mothers HIV antibodies.

The importance of being able to detect for HIV RNA is to diagnose individuals with the HIV infection so that we can treat it properly and accurately with antiretroviral therapy (ART). They need to get a viral load from the infected patient to test it to see how many viral particles are in the HIV-1 blood sample. The more particles that are in the blood sample the faster they destroy other cells which can cause the progression towards AIDS to rapidly increase.

For individuals who have HIV they must get routine viral loads in order to monitor their treatment. By knowing what treatments work for the infected individuals, we can help them and others in the future to manage the disease as well as a possible cure for a better life. The goal when detecting HIV from a viral load it to be able to make a drug to help an individual to not have a detectable level in the blood. The other reason this needs to be studied more is because your body may become resistant to the anti-HIV drugs. That is why it is important for the HIV RNA detection. When there is little detection in your blood then there is no risk of HIV being passed on. Individuals need to take their seriously.