Submitted by [deleted] t3_yvrfih in askscience
Sibaron t1_iwg2rn4 wrote
I would presume modern HIV PCR detection uses a variety of primers, that would in all likely cases detect the presence of the virus. The same is possible for the antibody test. However, it could also be that both tests target a gene or protein region that is so highly conserved it would never change. Thus any mutation would not be able to avoid detection. Any mutation significant enough that no primer or antibody would not effectively detect, would in all cases also affect the virus to a degree it would most likely be non viable. Even something as mutagenic as a virus or bacteria needs some conservation of specific regions to function properly.
vestbio t1_iwgcnwq wrote
Thank you for your valuable time and reply.
But there are articles about updating kits later on where hiv O group could not be detected in the past. Likewise the pcr test cannot kill hiv-2. In addition to these, the HIV n and p group can also give false negatives. I have read many articles about them.
Could a new strain have arisen?
"Divergent hiv strain" among the false negatives on the website of the World Health Organization it is written
Sibaron t1_iwgdg9i wrote
Kill HIV-2? Do you mean detect? HIV-2 is a another type of virus than HIV-1, therefore for it to detect both it would need target a common motive for both. HIV-1 test would not be made to detect HIV-2. You can get false positives and negatives in any test, and yes some might lead to more false negatives but the test can still detect them.
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