As shown in the sample from patient 2, in some individuals with HIV infection, HIV RNA is detectable in a plasma sample but the amount of HIV RNA is so low (less than 40 copies/mL) that the laboratory assay cannot accurately quantitate the HIV RNA level. In this situation, the laboratory report typically states HIV-1 RNA was detected in this sample but below the assay's limit of quantitation. This contrasts with the sample from patient 1 that corresponds with a quantitative HIV-1 RNA level since it is above 40 copies/mL.  For the sample from patient 3, the HIV RNA level is extremely low and would not be detected on most standard commercial assays.<div></div>