title: Testing for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 2 in the United States.
abstract: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that all donated blood be screened for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) beginning no later than June 1, 1992. This article provides CDC recommendations for the diagnosis of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections in persons being tested in settings other than blood centers and CDC/FDA guidelines for serologic testing with combination HIV-1/HIV-2 screening enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). Epidemiologic data indicate that the prevalence of HIV-2 infections in persons in the United States is extremely low. Therefore, CDC does not recommend routine testing for HIV-2 in settings other than blood centers. However, when HIV testing is indicated, tests for antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 should be obtained if epidemiologic risk factors for HIV-2 infection are present, if clinical evidence exists for HIV disease in the absence of a positive test for antibodies to HIV-1, or if HIV-1 Western blot results exhibit the unusual indeterminate pattern of gag plus pol bands in the absence of env bands. The following procedures are recommended if testing for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 is performed by means of a combination HIV-1/HIV-2 EIA. A repeatedly reactive specimen by HIV-1/HIV-2 EIA should be tested by HIV-1 Western blot (or another licensed HIV-1 supplemental test). A positive result by HIV-1 Western blot confirms the presence of antibodies to HIV, and testing for HIV-2 is recommended only if HIV-2 risk factors are present. If the HIV-1 Western blot result is negative or indeterminate, an HIV-2 EIA should be performed. If the HIV-2 EIA is positive, an HIV-2 supplemental test should be performed.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Holmberg
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schochetman
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000328:Adult; D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies