[Question #13726] Rna follow up question

2 hours ago

Dear Doctors, hello again.

I hope i am not disturbing you with this follow up question.

I was reading a reply given by Doctor Handsfield a couple of months ago:

. "Any and all existing HIV tests always are positive in the presence of symptom caused by HIV, including acute HIV infection (i.e. acute retroviral syndrome or ARS). This is regardless of time since exposure; the 45 day window for the AgAb test is for asymptomatic infection. (There's an exception for the HIV PCR RNA tests, i.e. "viral load". These tests often are negative in people taking anti HIV drugs; and sometimes in the rare HIV infected persons called "elite controllers"

1) Iunderstand that it has been mentioned that PCR RNA tests may not always be reliable in individuals known as “elite controllers.” I would like to ask how one can be confident that they are not an elite controller and that their RNA test result is indeed valid.

2)Additionally, do elite controllers always have a sufficient viral load during the first few weeks after infection that would be detectable by this specific test?

3)If were an elite controller would my 18th day pcr test post the event be valid?

Thank you very much for your time and clarification.