title: Improved detection of HIV p24 antigen in serum after acid pretreatment.
abstract: HIV-1 p24 antigen was detected in 554 sera (509 from HIV-1 seropositive individuals and 45 sera from seronegative controls) using a conventional method with acid pretreatment of the sample in order to separate the p24 antigen/anti-p24 antibody immune complexes. In asymptomatic individuals there was a substantial increase in antigen detection (48.2% vs 8.4%). Similar results were also observed in ARC (59.1% vs 12.2%) and AIDS patients (85.7% vs 37.1%). It can be concluded that the acid treatment improves the sensitivity of conventional techniques to detect HIV-1 p24 antigen.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Puerto Real University Hospital, University of Cádiz, Spain.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Rodríguez-Iglesias
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Alvarez
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Vergara
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Garcia-Valdivia
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Jesús
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mira
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000097:blood*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid