RETROCELL HIV-1 passive hemagglutination assay for HIV-1 antibody screening.
A passive hemagglutination assay (PHA) for serum human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antibody screening was developed using aldehyde-stabilized human erythrocytes coated with purified HIV-1 antigens. The assay is simple to perform, and the components are inexpensive. In preliminary testing of a panel of 490 confirmed HIV-1 seropositive specimens, all tested positive by the HIV-1 PHA assay. By testing seroconversion specimens and dilution panels, the assay demonstrated a sensitivity equivalent to a recombinant protein-based HIV-1 enzyme immunoassay (EIA). In-house evaluation of 2,557 HIV-1 prescreened specimens from South African blood bank donors revealed initial and repeat reactive rates of 0.2 and 0.04%, respectively. Field testing of the HIV-1 antibody PHA at two sites gave performance of 100% sensitivity (400 seroconfirmed samples) and 0.55% initial/0.28% repeat reactive rates in the testing of 3,983 negative samples. The performance, low cost, and ease of use make the HIV-1 antibody PHA test a prime candidate for HIV-1 antibody screening in regions of the world where more sophisticated technology is inappropriate.
Scheffel
J W
JW
Abbott Laboratories, Diagnostics Division, North Chicago, Illinois 60064.
Wiesner
D
D
Kapsalis
A
A
Traylor
D
D
Suarez
A
A
D015153:Blotting, Western; D004912:Erythrocytes; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology
D015483:HIV Antibodies