title: [Serology in HIV infection: comparison of indirect immunofluorescence, Western blot and enzyme immunoassay].
abstract: 145.990 sera obtained from AIDS-risks groups, hospitalized patients, blood donors etc. were tested for the presence of antibodies against the AIDS-Virus (HIV:Human Immunodeficiency Virus). All sera were submitted to ELISA screening. Sera with positive and questionable results were submitted to two independent confirmatory tests (Western Blot and immunofluorescence). In case of discordant confirmatory tests sera were additionally tested with the Abbott anti-HIV envelope/anti HIV core ELISA. The results of the present study demonstrate: 1. HIV serology has been definitely improved during the last year due to the development of high quality reagents. 2. Provided skilled and trained personnel the combined use of HIV confirmatory tests (Western Blot and immunofluorescence) does not give false negative or false positive results. 3. The results of both confirmatory assays may not always be interpretable ("problem sera"); this occurs more often with the Western Blot technique than with immunofluorescence. 4. Discrepant results in confirmatory tests necessitate the evaluation of many additional tests as possible. Such persons or patient should be further controlled serologically and clinically. 5. Checking the "problem sera" for antibodies against HTLV I gave only one single positive result in a Japanese.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies
vernacular_title: Serologie der HIV-Infektion: Vergleich von indirekter Immunfluoreszenz, Western Blot und Enzym Immunoassay.