Block Scientific, Inc

DRG HIV 1/2 ELISA (EIA-3491)

Introduction

The retroviruses HIV-1 and HIV-2 are known to be causative agents of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
(AIDS). Both retroviruses are transmitted mainly through sexual intercourse or through contact with blood and blood
products as well as diaplacentally from pregnant women to their babies. More than 90 % of infected individuals develop
antibodies to different proteins of HIV within a period of 3 to 6 weeks after infection. A short viraemic phase precedes
seroconversion, in which p24 antigen is detectable by highly sensitive assays. From that point of time genomically
integrated viral DNA can also be detected in mononuclear blood cells by polymerase chain reaction. However, the method
of choice for screening of HIV infections is the detection of antibodies to HIV by enzyme immunoassay.