HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS I ANTIBODY

Test Includes: Samples are screened for antibodies to HIV-I and HIV-II. If the screening test(s) are reactive, a confirmation test (Western blot) is performed for HIV-I and HIV-II, as appropriate.

Lab: Serology

Request Form: Microbiology/Serology

Collection: Routine venipuncture, SST (serum separator tube)

Storage Instructions: Centrifuge samples and store at 2-8°C.

Causes for Rejection: Bacterial contamination, gross hemolysis, leaking container, incomplete request/consent forms, submission of any other tube than SST tube.

Availability: Samples are accepted 24 hours per day at Sample Management, 5.136McCullough.

Turnaround Time: Test is performed daily Monday-Friday; confirmation of positives requires 3 - 7 days.

Special Instructions: A consent form signed by patient, witness, and ordering physician must be completed for each specimen for inpatient testing and placed in the patient's chart. For non-UTMB patients, the physician is responsible for obtaining written consent and performing appropriate counseling for the test. To ensure irrefutable identification, the serology laboratory strongly recommends that the original collection tube be submitted to the laboratory for this test.

HIV-I confirmation results: The results are reported as: "Confirmed positive for the presence of HIV-I antibodies. Evidence of infection.", or " WB failed to confirm the presence of HIV-1 antibodies. Retest in 12 weeks if clinically indicated", or "WB is indeterminate, if this is the first test, testing should be repeated within 6-8 weeks if clinically indicated. If repeatedly indeterminate, retesting is not necessary unless warranted based on clinical circumstances." The interpretation is based on the band pattern exhibited in the test. The CDC recommendations are bands at any of the two following locations be considered positive: p24, gp41, gp120/160. The report will contain the positive bands and the interpretation.

Specimen: Blood

Minimum Volume: 1 ml serum

Container: SST (gel barrier)

Reference Ranges: Non-reactive

Test Method: Screen - automated EIA (Abbott); confirmation - Western Blot (BioRad)

Revised/reviewed 07/25/2008 by T. Friloux

redbar600.gif (292 bytes)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W-Z

Anatomic Path Procedures LSG Home