Essai de deux reactifs combinés dans le diagnostic biologique de l'infection par les virus de l'immunodéficience humaine type 1 et 2

Abstract

In aim to reduce the serological window period, combined screening tests to anti-human immunoneficiency viruses types 1 and 2 (HIV 1 2 ) antibodies (Abs) with simultaneous detection of HIV1 p24 antigen, have been introduced in France. A comparative study of two combined screening tests and one classical Abs screening test shows that efficiency in term of fidelity, linearity and limit dilution of a multimarker run control, is similar. By use of HIV1 seroconverter panels, the classical test evaluated may be more sensitive than combined screening tests with, in one case, an earlier detection of seropositivity (up to eleven days). Lastly, the specificity of HIV 1 2 Abs combined screening tests remains lower (between 0.18 and 0.23% of false positive sample) than this of classical Abs screening tests which is minus or equal to 0.12%. Some progress are necessary in this field. Introduction of p24 antigen does not improve the efficiency of the test.