September 2004 Cover
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A new HIV test combining aspects of traditional antibody testing with polymerase chain
reaction testing, which amplifies small amounts of virus, may allow doctors to monitor
treatment better and screen blood with more speed and sensitivity than current tests. The
Real-Time Immuno-PCR test detects small amounts of the p24 protein in HIV.
The efficacy of AIDS drugs can be measured by monitoring a patient's HIV levels, of
which an increase can signal drug resistance. When drugs lose their effect, patients need
to switch drugs. Most current tests of viral load can detect 50 copies of HIV, while the
Real-Time Immuno-PCR can detect just two copies.
Editor's Note: from the Wall Street Journal
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