Key questions in the area of resistance remain unanswered, however, such as what to do about resistant strains already existing before viral load is reduced, as well as resistant strains transmitted to newly infected persons. And of course we need to know a lot more about the resistance patterns and cross-resistance patterns of the protease inhibitors, especially when conditions arise that mean we must interrupt the regular schedule of taking them. In reading reports, pay attention to whether the researchers have used the standard tests or the new third generation PCR tests which can measure viral loads as low as 25. 4. The effectiveness of the new antiviral combinations is both more profound and more durable than anything we've seen before. In earlier stages, the results are even more impressive.
Scientists have even more hopeful developments in the works.
Some can be taken less often or with less dietary restriction. Some show more favorable resistance patterns. Some will attack yet another, different part of the HIV life cycle, meaning that combination therapy will be less vulnerable to the development of resistance. Technology for testing the drug-resistant mutations and strains of virus in an individual's body is not that far from being widely available. Right now, this technology is limited to specialized research laboratories because it is so labor intensive and expensive, but breakthroughs permitting much higher volume and thus cheaper testing have occurred recently.