Abstract
An inexpensive and rapid test for determining titers of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in plasmas was developed. Washed sheep red blood cells were applied onto HIV positive plasmas, in V-bottomed microtiter plates, to complement the HIV antigens and antibodies present in plasmas. The setup was incubated for 30 minutes at 37℃. Reciprocal of the highest dilution of each plasma which gave passive agglutination of the RBCs was read as its HIV titer. Mean HIV load of five samples, was ≥ 4096.00 ± 0.00 after one day of storage at 4℃ but it reduced to 256.00 ± 70.10, 28.80 ± 3.20, 7.20 ± 0.80 and 1.60 ± 0.98 on days 2, 3, 4 and 7, respectively. HIV antibodies were still detectable, by ELISA, in plasma dilutions that were tested negative with the new test. It was concluded that when HIV antibodies have been confirmed, or added to plasmas, passive hemagglutination test can be applied to assess their viral loads.
Highlights
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic is a very big health challenge in many countries, especially in Africa
Highest dilution of a plasma that gave complete passive agglutination of the RBCs was read as titer of HIV in it, on the condition that the higher dilution of the plasma tested positive to HIV antibodies by the solid phase ELISA test
HIV titers (DPHA) of the plasma samples stored at 4 ̊C were as on Table 1
Summary
The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a very big health challenge in many countries, especially in Africa. CD4 T-lymphocytes counts are influenced by other factors such as opportunistic infections, and nutritional factors For this reason, assessment of HIV plasma virus load is the most sensitive and most reliable parameter of monitoring progression of HIV infections and for assessing effectiveness of ARTs [1], but because tests available for quantitative detection of HIV are expensive, most laboratories and hospitals in developing countries use CD4 T-lymphocyte counts to estimate HIV viraemia. By using serial dilutions of viral antigens to sensitize red blood cells, before reacting them onto known homologous antibodies, we have been able to develop a Modified Passive Hemagglutination Test and successfully used it for quantitative detection of Infectious Bursa Disease Virus [5]. It was thought achievable to develop a direct passive hemagglutination (DPHA) test for rapid assessment of HIV titers in plasmas, since the antigens and their homologous antibodies coexist at high concentrations in the specimen
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
