The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a lentivirus (a subgroup of retrovirus) that causes HIV infection and over time acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive. Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre- ejaculate, or breast milk.
Within these bodily fluids, HIV is present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells. There are two types of HIV responsible for human infections, HIV-1 and HIV-2, which differ in their virulence and prevalence. Most reported cases of AIDS around the world have been attributed to HIV-1. AIDS symptoms occur at an advanced stage of HIV infection when the compromised immune system cannot fight off opportunistic infections.
At present, there is no cure for AIDS, and it is believed that most HIV infected people will eventually die of an AIDS-related illness. However, advancements in HIV/AIDS therapies, including those that fight the virus itself as well as those that prevent or treat opportunistic infections, have drastically improved life expectancy and quality of many HIV/AIDS patients. Thus early detection of HIV is necessary.
The PathoDetectTM HIV quantitative PCR kit is an in vitro nucleic acid amplification test for the quantitation of based on real time PCR technology, for the detection and quantification of HIV specific RNA encompassing all HIV-1 groups M subtypes and Group N.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) RNA in human plasma. This diagnostic test kit utilizes the real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after nucleic acid extraction.
