HIV DNA Test Singapore | Shim Clinic

HIV deoxyribonucleic acid test is a very sensitive test able to detect HIV at the earliest stage of infection.

HIV DNA test is a type of HIV test that uses the PCR test method to detect the very minute amounts of HIV DNA that appears very early after infection.

It’s sensitivity allow for the detection of HIV infection in as little as 10 days after exposure.

It is particularly useful for the diagnosis of HIV infection in infants born to HIV positive mothers.

As HIV is an RNA virus, the maternal HIV RNA may exist in the infant for a while after birth. And hence the detection of the RNA does not indicate infection.

It is only when the HIV begin to multiply in the infant does the HIV DNA start to appear. And hence indicate that an HIV infection has occurred.

• A PCR (polymerase chain reaction) NAT (nucleic acid test) for HIV-1 proviral DNA, therefore a HIV DNA Test.
• Method: Proviral DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction (Roche Amplicor HIV-1 DNA Test, V1.5) This test uses primers SK145 and SKCC1B to define a sequence of 155 nucleotides within a highly conserved region of the HIV-1 gag gene.
• Usually used for the early diagnosis of HIV infection in neonates born to HIV+ mothers. As maternal antibodies circulate in the child for several months, the HIV antibody test would be positive.
• Also used for early HIV diagnosis in adults.

References

• HIV dna test @ Wikipedia