Viral Load Monitoring

Viral load monitoring of HIV and other infectious diseases provides essential information to guide clinicians in making treatment decisions. Over the past two decades, the field of virology molecular testing has evolved to provide increased assay sensitivity and more actionable results for clinicians. Today, for example, a viral load result is a routine barometer of an HIV-1 patient’s health and is typically used by physicians to monitor a patient’s response to therapy.
In the past year or two, though, there have been notable changes in the viral load testing landscape for three key viruses—hepatitis C (HCV), HIV-1, and cytomegalovirus (CMV). The primary driver behind the shift has not been new technology per se but rather the availability of new therapies or other significant developments in clinical guidelines and practice.

Read more:
Viral load monitoring: shifting paradigms in clinical practice

Source: Medical Laboratory Observer
Image credits: Vortex.com

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