title: Effects of multiple freeze thaws and various temperatures on the reactivity of human immunodeficiency virus antibody using three detection assays.
abstract: The effects of multiple freeze-thaw cycles and various temperatures (-20 degrees C, 4 degrees C, 25 degrees C, 37 degrees C) on the reactivity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies were evaluated using current ELISA, recombinant, and Western blot methodologies. Twenty consecutive freeze-thaw cycles and storage of specimens at -20 degrees C and 4 degrees C for 57 days resulted in no loss of HIV antibody reactivity nor false positive samples. Maintenance of clinical specimens at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C for 57 days resulted in some loss of HIV antibody reactivity, but all positive and weakly reacting samples remained positive, and negative samples were unaffected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virus Disease, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5100.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Fipps
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Damato
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004355:Drug Stability; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005615:Freezing; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies