[Guest]

Is re a difference between viral load testing pcr testing? Also, I read a symptom of hiv can be brown or purple spots on or under skin look like bruises. Is true in someone recently infected or is a much later symptom? If so, causes se spots to appear?

[Guest]

We usually assess viral load with two technologies: either pcr or bdna. They both assess the amount of viral genetic material, ie virus, present. There are quantitative pcr and bdna tests -- how much, and qualitative tests-- is it present or not. I'm not sure about the skin lesions you're describing. KS is purple, can look like a flat lesion, a spot or a lump. It doesn't come in early infection. GR