The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and has been a major global burden for over three decades.1,2 HIV is transmitted through sexual contact, contaminated blood and blood products or from an HIV-infected mother to her child before, during and after birth.3 Diagnosis of an HIV infection can be made as early as 2 - 3 weeks after infection, based on the detection of HIV p24 antigen in the blood.4,5 Anti-HIV antibodies are detectable in serum from around 4 weeks post-infection.4,6
With the Elecsys® HIV Duo assay, HIV-1 p24 antigen (HIV Ag), as well as antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2 (anti-HIV) can be detected in parallel with two separate determinations. On the basis of these determinations, the Elecsys® HIV Duo main result is calculated automatically by the analyzer. The subresults for HIV Ag and anti-HIV can be used as an aid in the selection of the confirmation algorithm for reactive samples.7
