Immunodiagnosis of HIV infection in the transfusion service

• Published in: Gematologiia i transfuziologiia Vol. 36; no. 5; p. 34
• Main Authors: Golosova, T V, Margolina, A N, Tupoleva, T A, Guliaeva, A A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russia (Federation) 01.05.1991
• Subjects: AIDS Serodiagnosis; Blood Donors; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques
• ISSN: 0234-5730

Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) is the basic method of the laboratory diagnosis of HIV-infection used as the first component of donors' screening. The possibility of nonspecific reactions presents a significant shortcoming of this method. An algorithm involving three stages has been elaborated to investigate donors for anti-HIV antibodies and to verify seropositive samples. The first-stage screening is conducted with the use of Soviet test-reagents. Positive samples are assayed again in the Soviet EI-systems based on varying types of sorbed antigens. In case of questionable or positive reactions the sample is assayed in commercial imported test-systems (the second stage). The positive sera are assayed in the immunoblotting test (the third stage). The algorithm suggested provides a reliable control and is worthwhile economically. The causes of nonspecific reactions in EIA have been described.