title: Rapid whole blood assay for HIV-1 seropositivity using an Fab-peptide conjugate.
abstract: A rapid whole blood test has been developed for circulating antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), based on agglutination of autologous red blood cells. Evaluation of the test revealed that 100% of seropositive HIV-1 patients (both asymptomatic and AIDS cases) were detected (n = 94) with a specificity of 99.5% in healthy blood donors (n = 596). The assay uses an Fab fragment of a monoclonal antibody specifically directed against glycophorin (a transmembrane glycoprotein present on the surface of human red blood cells). This anti-red blood cell Fab is conjugated via the inter-heavy chain cysteines to a synthetic peptide corresponding to the immunodominant epitope of the HIV-1 viral coat protein gp41 (579-613). Addition of this reagent to 10 microliters of whole blood results in the Fab-peptide conjugate coating the red blood cells with peptide. In the presence of circulating antibodies to the HIV-1 peptide, red cell agglutination occurs within 2 min. The sensitivity and specificity of this reagent indicate that it is appropriate for use as a rapid diagnostic test for HIV-1 seropositivity.
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerometta
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rylatt
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Bundesen
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: McPhee
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hillyard
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Kemp
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000818:Animals; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes