Closing the Window of Early HIV Infection by Incorporation of HIV p24 Ag Detection in an Anti-HIV-1/-2/-0 Assay: Vtronostika® HIV Uniform II Ag/Ab

Abstract

Historically, the performance of anti-HIV assays over the last 10 years has shown great improvements in sensitivity and specificity. Relatively insensitive viral lysate based assays, applied in an indirect assay format, were replaced by sensitive tests based on highly purified HIV specific antigens, which are usually viral or recombinant proteins or synthetic peptides. These antigen combinations are usually applied in a sandwich assay format. By using these sensitive 3rd generation anti-HIV sandwich assays in the bloodbanking environment, the risk of releasing a HIV positive sample for transfusion has been greatly lowered. Some time ago Organon Teknika has updated its HIV Uni-Form II assay with HIV-1 group 0 antigen for optimal HIV subtype detection, resulting in the Vironostika® HIV Uni-Form II plus 0 assay [1,2].