Aa
does the ELISA check for p24
Just had a test yesterday and was wondering if the ELISA (UK gum clinics) check for the p24. I did not ask them.
In many cases the clinics do not know which type of test is in use. They will just say it's an antibody test and to test outside the window period.
I asked the health advisor here what type of test they used when they tested me at 28 days. She was a little taken aback I asked and said it was just a normal antibody test.
It was only after I tested outside the window that I found out the test they use is a combined Antibody / P24 Antigen test.
I felt a little more reassured at the validity of my 28 day result from knowing that. It was quite by acident that I presented at 28 days though.
I think many if not most of the GUM clinics in the UK would be using Ab/Ag tests. They have to use Ab/Ag for blood so a lot depends on which processes use the machine. Some larger health authorities may have a machine dedicated for the blood supply and one dedicated for GUM and other Diagnostics e.g. Ante Natal.
The reagents are updated anyway. I was looking on the Biomieriuex site and I couldn't find 3rd gen reagents strips. The 4th gen reagent strips are a drop-in replacement anyway
If a Western Blot is indeterminate the patient will get a call back for another blood draw.
I asked the health advisor here what type of test they used when they tested me at 28 days. She was a little taken aback I asked and said it was just a normal antibody test.
It was only after I tested outside the window that I found out the test they use is a combined Antibody / P24 Antigen test.
I felt a little more reassured at the validity of my 28 day result from knowing that. It was quite by acident that I presented at 28 days though.
I think many if not most of the GUM clinics in the UK would be using Ab/Ag tests. They have to use Ab/Ag for blood so a lot depends on which processes use the machine. Some larger health authorities may have a machine dedicated for the blood supply and one dedicated for GUM and other Diagnostics e.g. Ante Natal.
The reagents are updated anyway. I was looking on the Biomieriuex site and I couldn't find 3rd gen reagents strips. The 4th gen reagent strips are a drop-in replacement anyway
If a Western Blot is indeterminate the patient will get a call back for another blood draw.
p24 does not detect the virus directly, the p24 antigen is often associated with early seroconversion. Others may cross-react with it that are negative. The western blot is used as a confirmatory test only after a reactive ELISA. The ELISA is often reactive before the WB. Take care.
well does it test for the most common antigens then? I read that the western blot can show up indeterminate for some non-infected individuals so is the ELISA more specific than the western blot or what, coz they do the elisa first I think and only a western blot to confirm if the elisa reacts.
Also how many copies of the virus can they detect?
Also how many copies of the virus can they detect?
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