Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The Associated Press; Wednesday, December 15, 1993
The tests, when they reach the market, should help doctors monitor the effects of AIDS treatment and also may provide earlier diagnosis of AIDS infections, particularly in newborns.
Current widely used tests, available since the mid 1980s, reveal only the presence of AIDS antibodies, which are the body's reaction to an AIDS infection. But these widely available tests do not directly detect HIV, the AIDS virus.
Two new generations of tests are under development, both based on greatly streamlined versions of polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, a sophisticated lab technique that expands tiny amounts of genetic material so it can be easily detected. The PCR technique has been used in research to search for the HIV virus itself in humans.
The AIDS virus, unlike most other forms of life, carries its genes as RNA rather than DNA, both of which are acids found inside cells and help produce the proteins that build and regulate the body.
To make new copies of itself, the AIDS virus must first convert its genes from RNA into DNA and then stitch them into the genetic material of infected blood cells.
Furthest along are tests that will spot viral genes that have become part of blood cells this way. These tests, which look for viral DNA, will reveal whether or not someone is infected with the AIDS virus. But they do not show how much virus actually dwells within the cells.
The latest innovation, outlined at a scientific meeting Tuesday, are tests that reveal viral RNA.
931215
AP931207
Copyright © 1993 - Associated Press. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the AP Permissions Desk.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1993. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 1993. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .