title: A recombinant protein based immunoassay for the combined detection of antibodies to HIV-1, HIV-2 and HTLV-I.
abstract: The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a combined assay for the detection of antibodies to HIV-1, HIV-2 and HTLV-I (human T-cell leukemia virus type I). A mixture of recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides was fixed to the surface of microELISA wells and a protein A peroxidase conjugate was used as tracer. The combined assay was compared to specific HIV-1/2 and HTLV-I commercial ELISAs. The sensitivity was studied with a panel of 158 HIV-1, 82 HIV-2 and 48 HTLV-I positive sera, all of which were reactive in the combined assay. The analytical sensitivity was studied with a panel of serially diluted sera and was similar to that obtained for the specific ELISAs. The specificity of the test was 99.78% against a panel of 466 negative sera collected from voluntary donors that included HBsAg, HCV, and VDRL positive sera. The false positive serum was borderline in the HTLV-I specific ELISA. The new combined ELISA can be used as an efficient initial screening assay, avoiding the cost of individual tests for HIV and HTLV.
authors.affiliation: Immunotechnology and Diagnostics Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba. Lab.diagnostico@cigb.edu.cu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benítez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palenzuela
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rivero
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Gavilondo
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins