Evaluation of the Architect HIV Ag/Ab Combo Assay in a low-prevalence setting: the role of samples with a low S/CO ratio

The complexity of the HIV-1 epidemic has been increasing worldwide, reaching a highly heterogeneous distribution of HIV-1 subtypes/sub-subtypes that varies geographically [1 –3]. On the other hand, the diagnosis of HIV infection has evolved considerably since the development of the first serological screening tests in 1985. The most widely used today are fourth-generation ELISAs, which can detect both antigens (p24) and antibodies against HIV-1 and HIV-2. These assays have been extensively evaluated and have proven to have high sensitivity and specificity, thus narrowing the window period and enabling the detection of acute and early HIV infection [4–12].
Source: Journal of Clinical Virology - Category: Virology Authors: Source Type: research