The Karpas AIDS Cell Test compared with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting antibody to the human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-I and HIV-2).
We have compared the Karpas AIDS Cell Test for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Organon Teknika) by testing serum samples from 324 intravenous drug abusers in Turin. The cell test was found to be more sensitive and as specific as the ELISA with the serum samples from the drug abusers. In Lisbon, 30 samples were tested on slides containing cells infected with HIV-1 and/or HIV-2. All 15 samples, which were positive for HIV-2 alone (in the HIV-2 Elavia test and by the Western blotting technique), were also positive in the Karpas AIDS test. In contrast, only one of the 15 samples (7%) gave a positive reading in the ELISA for HIV-1. Results of 30 samples tested in Turin and Lisbon by the Western blotting technique agreed closely with those obtained with the Karpas AIDS Cell Test. We were also able to show that the entire test can be performed at room temperature and completed within 1 hour. Moreover, the cell test requires minimal skill and simple equipment and is inexpensive. It also includes non-infected cells as a control and the specificity of positive samples may be verified with a bench microscope. Furthermore, this test which detects antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 allows rapid typing of the infecting strain.
Dal Conte
I
I
Center for Drug Abusers, National Health Service, U.S.L.I., Turin, Italy.
Lucchini
A
A
Giuliani
G
G
Ayres
L
L
Avillez
M F
MF
Gilgen
D
D
Karpas
A
A
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000349:Africa; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001266:Atlantic Islands; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007558:Italy; D011174:Portugal; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic