title: Evaluation of the siemens HIV antigen-antibody immunoassay.
abstract: Fourth-generation assays for the simultaneous detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigen and antibodies are available on the international market and are currently used for blood donor screening and for HIV diagnosis. In this study we evaluated the performance of the novel automated fourth-generation ADVIA Centaur® HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay. The assay detected seroconversion at the same bleed or at least one bleed earlier in panels with respect to other assays and showed a detection efficacy equal to those of other assays in a low-titer panel. Samples obtained from blood donors (n = 2,778) or from HIV-positive patients (HIV-1 B subtype, n = 82; non-B subtype, n = 71) were also tested, showing a good correlation with other fourth-generation assays. We assessed the performance of 3 fourth-generation assays for detecting in utero transmitted anti-HIV antibodies and found a more specific detection efficiency with the ADVIA Centaur HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay compared to the other fourth-generation assays.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali, Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vallefuoco
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aden Abdi
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spalletti-Cernia
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzarella
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barbato
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Buffolano
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Nicuolo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Portella
mesh_terms: D057205:Automation, Laboratory / Q000379:methods; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens