HIV Viral Load (RNA PCR)

Tube Type

Test ID		LAB878
EPIC Order		HIV RNA, Quantitative, PCR
CPT Code(s)		87536
Group/Individual Test		Individual
Laboratory		Molecular Microbiology
Tube Station		30
Specimen	Routine:	Pearl KEDTA; See Comments
	Micro:	If <18 months old, one lavender EDTA tube.
Availability	Routine:	Monday-Friday
	STAT:	N/A
Turnaround Time		3 Days
Reference Range	Normal:	Not Detected Linear Range = 20 - 10,000,000 copies/ml (1.30-7.00 LOG10 copies/ml)
Comment		This test requires a dedicated specimen and cannot be added-on to specimens already in the laboratory. Deliver Immediately. Must be received and processed in Laboratory within 6 hours of collection. Not a Diagnostic Test. For use on known HIV Positive patients only. HIV-1 quantification by real-time RT-PCR is performed using the Abbott Alinity-m test. This test is FDA approved and can quantitate HIV-1 RNA over the range of 20-10,000,000 copies/mL (1.30 log(10)-7.00 log(10) copies/mL). Cross-reactions may occur between lentiviral vectors and the LTR sequences targeted in this HIV-1 nucleic acid test. Therefore, patients on CAR T immunotherapy may have false positive HIV viral load results with this assay. This test is NOT FDA approved for the diagnosis of HIV in pediatric patients. Additional testing should be ordered as clinically indicated.

Reviewed by J. Carr on November 23, 2025

UNC Hospitals
McLendon Clinical Laboratories
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514