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human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV1) western blot
Indications:
- HIV1
Methods:
- Western blot.
- HIV proteins are run on a polyacrylamide gel.
- the patient's serum is used as a source of antibodies to HIV proteins; that is the test detects antibodies to specific HIV proteins
- the antibodies fix protein to the gel if present in the serum
- positive & negative controls are run with patient specimens
Specimen:
- serum, plasma
Clinical significance:
a positive western blot is defined as the presence of bands for the following HIV proteins:
1) p24
2) gp41
3) gp120
4) gp160
CDC criteria:
- gp41 & (gp120 or gp160)
- p24 & (gp41 or gp120 or gp160)
MKSAP15 criteria: gp120 & (gp41 or p24) [2]
An indeterminate western blot partially fulfills CDC criteria. 10-20% of HIV1 EIA positive specimens are indeterminate by western blot.
In the special case of infants who may carry maternal antibody, IgM antigen tests have been developed but lack sensitivity.
Related
electrophoresis
human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)
General
HIV laboratory testing
western blot
References
- Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, 3rd edition, NW Tietz
ed, WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1995
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 15,
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2009
Component-of
HIV panel