Question:medium
HIV RNA detection by PCR (viral load assay) can reliably detect as low as how many copies of viral RNA per millilitre of blood?
HIV RNA detection by PCR (viral load assay) can reliably detect as low as how many copies of viral RNA per millilitre of blood?
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Routine clinical viral load assays bottom out at this two-digit copy number.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- 30 copies viral RNA/ml of blood
- 40 copies viral RNA/ml of blood
- 50 copies of viral RNA/ml of blood
- 60 copies of viral RNA/ml of blood
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: HIV nucleic acid testing by reverse-transcriptase PCR measures circulating viral particles and expresses the answer as copies of HIV RNA in each millilitre of plasma. This quantitative figure guides treatment decisions and tells the clinician how well the antiretroviral regimen is suppressing replication.
Step 2: For the widely used clinical platforms the dependable floor of detection sits at $40$ copies per millilitre. Below that level the assay can no longer give a trustworthy number, so 40 copies/ml is the accepted answer.
Step 3: Values such as 30, 50 or 60 copies/ml do not represent the established sensitivity limit. Ultra-sensitive research tools can sense even one copy per millilitre, but the question asks about the standard reliable threshold.
\[\boxed{40 \text{ copies viral RNA/ml of blood}}\]
Step 2: For the widely used clinical platforms the dependable floor of detection sits at $40$ copies per millilitre. Below that level the assay can no longer give a trustworthy number, so 40 copies/ml is the accepted answer.
Step 3: Values such as 30, 50 or 60 copies/ml do not represent the established sensitivity limit. Ultra-sensitive research tools can sense even one copy per millilitre, but the question asks about the standard reliable threshold.
\[\boxed{40 \text{ copies viral RNA/ml of blood}}\]
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