Evaluation of the Murex HIV Ag/Ab Combination assay when used with dried blood spots.

This study evaluated the ability of the Murex HIV Ag/Ab Combination assay to detect human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies in 12 617 dried blood spots (DBSs) on filter paper. The assay had an overall sensitivity of 99.6% and a specificity of 99.9%. In view of its ability to detect p24 antigen and both HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies in samples collected in the form of DBSs, the Murex Ag/Ab Combination assay is suitable for use as a standard screening assay for seroprevalence studies, as well as for routine diagnostic use in clinical laboratories.