OBJECTIVE: To reduce the number of HIV-1 Western blot (WB)-indeterminates requiring follow-up and the time taken to provide a clear positive or negative result. DESIGN: In the first of two stages, a testing and follow-up strategy was developed to resolve anti-HIV-1 status of WB-indeterminates. In the second stage, implementation of this strategy was assessed. METHODS: After dividing indeterminates into four groups according to WB profile, samples were tested for anti-HIV-1, anti-HIV-2, anti-HTLV-I antibodies, and HIV-1 antigen using the most sensitive assays available. When testing failed to clarify anti-HIV-1 status, follow-up samples were taken to monitor changes in antibody status. RESULTS: Samples in two out of the four indeterminate groups were negative for anti-HIV-1. The other two groups required additional testing and/or follow-up to distinguish reactivity caused by anti-HIV-1 from cross-reactivity. CONCLUSION: Grouping HIV-1 WB-indeterminates according to profile allows a significant percentage to be reported as anti-HIV-1-negative, while additional testing may allow others to be reported as anti-HIV-1-positive. The remainder require a maximum of 3 months' follow-up to resolve anti-HIV-1 status.
OBJECTIVE: To reduce the number of HIV-1 Western blot (WB)-indeterminates requiring follow-up and the time taken to provide a clear positive or negative result. DESIGN: In the first of two stages, a testing and follow-up strategy was developed to resolve anti-HIV-1 status of WB-indeterminates. In the second stage, implementation of this strategy was assessed. METHODS: After dividing indeterminates into four groups according to WB profile, samples were tested for anti-HIV-1, anti-HIV-2, anti-HTLV-I antibodies, and HIV-1 antigen using the most sensitive assays available. When testing failed to clarify anti-HIV-1 status, follow-up samples were taken to monitor changes in antibody status. RESULTS: Samples in two out of the four indeterminate groups were negative for anti-HIV-1. The other two groups required additional testing and/or follow-up to distinguish reactivity caused by anti-HIV-1 from cross-reactivity. CONCLUSION: Grouping HIV-1 WB-indeterminates according to profile allows a significant percentage to be reported as anti-HIV-1-negative, while additional testing may allow others to be reported as anti-HIV-1-positive. The remainder require a maximum of 3 months' follow-up to resolve anti-HIV-1 status.
Authors: C R Robert George; Peter W Robertson; M Josephine Lusk; Ross Whybin; William Rawlinson Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2014-09-10 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: John Zaunders; Wayne B Dyer; Melissa Churchill; C Mee Ling Munier; Philip H Cunningham; Kazuo Suzuki; Kristin McBride; Will Hey-Nguyen; Kersten Koelsch; Bin Wang; Bonnie Hiener; Sarah Palmer; Paul R Gorry; Michelle Bailey; Yin Xu; Mark Danta; Nabila Seddiki; David A Cooper; Nitin K Saksena; John S Sullivan; Sean Riminton; Jenny Learmont; Anthony D Kelleher Journal: J Virus Erad Date: 2019-04-01