HIV 1 And 2 Antibody
Understanding HIV 1 And 2 Antibody
What is HIV 1 And 2 Antibody?
HIV 1 & 2 WESTERN BLOT test helps detect HIV1 and HIV2 antibodies in the blood. These antibodies indicate HIV infection. This is not a screening test, as it does not detect an HIV infection soon after exposure. It detects the antibodies after 3 to 12 weeks of exposure. During the first few weeks of infection, the virus and the antigen in the blood increase. After another 2-8 weeks, these increased levels fall as the infected body starts producing antibodies against the antigen of a virus. At this time, the HIV antibody can be detected in the blood. This test should be performed at this time because, after some time, both the antigen and antibody levels in the blood fall.
What is HIV 1 And 2 Antibody used for?
To confirm HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies
To differentiate HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies in specimens of serum that show reactive results with third and fourth generation HIV serologic assays
What does HIV 1 And 2 Antibody measure?
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV Virus is of two types: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is found in AIDS patients, AIDS-related complex patients, and those persons who are at high risk of getting affected by AIDS. HIV virus can be transmitted by sexual contact, exposure to blood or blood products of AIDS infected patients or transfer of infection from AIDS-infected mother to the fetus. Most of the cases of HIV-2 infected patients are seen in West Africa, and it is detected in patients who had sexual contact with people of that geographic region. These viruses have the same morphology, overall genomic structure, and ability to cause infection.
When the patient gets infected with the virus, the virus attacks the immune system called CD4 and combines with antibodies to use them for making a large number of copies inside the body of the patient by replication. During the first few weeks of infection, the amount of virus present and the level of p24 antigen in the blood becomes very high. After another 2-8 weeks, these increased levels start to fall as the body of the infected patient starts producing antibodies against the antigen of the virus. At this time, the HIV virus antibody can be detected in the patient’s blood via tests. The tests should be performed at this brief time because after some time both the levels of antigen and antibody in the blood falls. This will make the detection of virus infection difficult as the initial infection may have been resolved and you may not get a positive result against the infection.
The patients who fall under the risk for HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection are screened for HIV-1 or HIV-2 antigen or antibody screening test.
Interpreting HIV 1 And 2 Antibody results
Interpretations
A negative test means that the person is not infected from HIV.
However, a person who is under the risk of getting infected from AIDS to get screened from time to time.
A positive test means that the person is infected with HIV.
Answers to Patient Concerns & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about HIV 1 And 2 Antibody
Frequently Asked Questions about HIV 1 And 2 Antibody
Q. Is there any preparation required before the test?
Q. What are the symptoms of HIV infection?
Q. Is there any risk associated with this test?
Q. Which screening tests are advised by the doctor for patients under the risk of HIV?
Q. Is HIV infection curable?
Other tests
