Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): The quantitative PCR, also known as the viral load test, is considered to be highly reliable for someone who may have recently been exposed to the virus, particularly in a high-risk situation. If the virus is present, the quantitative PCR will reveal how much virus is in a person's bloodstream (the viral load). In most cases, a quantitative PCR is highly accurate within 48 to 72 hours. However, a small number of people don't have viral loads that are high enough to confirm a diagnosis until 28 days after exposure. The most widely available quantitative PCR test, AmplicorŽ version 1.5, can detect subtypes A through G, which account for 99.96% of HIV infections in the U.S.
The standard recommendation is that a negative PCR result be confirmed with an ELISA test at 13 weeks.
Though PCR DNA gives false positives...wont it be then reconfirmed with a WB test?