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. Nowadays, the most widely used are fourth-generation ELISAs, which can detect both antigens (p24) and antibodies against HIV-1 and HIV-2. These as says 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