Molecular/HIV laboratory

The Molecular/HIV laboratory

Summary

Science

Laboratory

Scientist 1

Scientist 2

Laboratory

The immunology laboratory makes use of two very different techniques in the monitoring of HIV infection once it has been initially diagnosed by the presence of HIV specific antibodies. We can measure the actual amount of viral infection within an individual by measuring the “viral load”. This can be done in several different ways that all fall under the general term of “molecular techniques”. One such technique is real time PCR. The second measurement that we can make is directly related to immune competence but also correlates with viral load. This is the quantification of the number of CD4 T cells that the patient has at any one time during HIV infection. This measurement is carried out by a technique called flow cytometry that uses the unique characteristics of white cells in the blood to identify and quantify CD4 T cells.

• Science