Two important scientific Question

[amal905]

Hello All,
I want to know if anyone of you know what is the difference between HIV-1 and HIV-2, and if the test we make to detect the AIDS includes the HIV-1 test and HIV-2 test already, or we need to make 2 seperate tests for each one?! I am so confused about this matter, and I want to know if one HIV test which we conduct at libortatory is enough.

Second Question, is the AIDS caused "only" by HIV virus? Ain't there other Viruses involved in causing this deadful disease

I will appreciate your discussions and opinions.

Thanks!

[surferp]

It does Teak. It does. For such a life changing event, isn't it a must that that person knows every detail of it? Just because we've been accustomed to the norm that positive elisa + positve wb = HIV doesn't mean we can't ask what constitutes a positive WB.

Again, the question is still unanswered. I'd appreciate it if someone can specify the number of bands and the type of bands that must be reactive to constitute a positive WB result for countries other than USA since we know about it already.

[Teak]

It doesn't concern you unless you work in a testing lab. Now to you have a concern about HIV?

[surferp]

That didn't answer the question. What you're saying is the "standardized process of determining a positive result" but not the specific criteria on determining a positive WB result.

Let's agree that a positive ELISA followed by a positive WB confirms HIV but the question still remains, what constitutes a positive WB result? 2, 3, 4 bands? Which among the 10 bands should be reactive?

[Teak]

There are two approved methods of confirming a positive result, a Western Blot and/or a IFA test and that is the standardized method of confirming a positive test worldwide. I suggest you go by the standardize testing proceedure in your locale.

[surferp]

No it's not. The site I showed you clearly state that each country/organization has it's own interpretation. A positive result in one country can have as few as 2 bands to as many as 4 bands and what constitutes 2 bands may still be different.

Again, the link you listed clearly says CDC and other organizations.

Have a look at the chart again and please tell me if they all have the same proteins or number of reactive bands to constitute a positive WB result.

--> http://www.healtoronto.com/wbchart.pdf
--> http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/bugl/treat.htm#confirmatory

[Teak]

That's not what it says at all. What it does tell you is how to read a Western Blot test. Had you read the article you sited you will see that the same bands are required for a positive test. As how the test is setup to be read may be different and the steps in developing the test my be different but the number of band required to give a positive result are the same.  

[surferp]

Teak, the site you gave only says CDC and several other organizations. It may only be specific to the US like what I've said. I appreciate it still.

JeanClaude, that is why I'm asking. I can't convince myself to just say a western blot test is a "standardized testing method" without much anything to base it on. Plus there are others that tell otherwise. Again, my aim is to only confirm and put this to rest and not to argue with anyone.

Here's another article I found that says western blot tests differ from organizations to organizations.

Various companies and organizations define a positive Western Blot test differently. (http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/bugl/treat.htm#confirmatory)

[JeanClaude]

http://****.***

[surferp]

That is what I really want to know which is why I posed the question about the positive western blot. FDA only works in the US but surely each country has it's own agency that determines what constitutes a positive western blot test in their country.

Like you, I believe that this is a significant issue that should be taken seriously but taking it seriously means looking at all possible angles and not just dismissing things because they came from dissident sites or from organizations with different beliefs or views. I believe everybody aims to eradicate this once and for all whether one believes or not in the the hiv causation of aids.

I'm still looking at what constitutes a positive western blot in other countries and I keep on getting the same chart. Again, i'd appreciate very much it if someone here can provide details of it. Thanks.

[JeanClaude]

A "Western Blot" is a standardized testing method, hence the name. It couldn't possibly differ significantly.

[gab5]

My limited understanding is that these tests are all fairly standardized and approved by the FDA.  Sites or critics that question HIV are a major part of the reason we have the epidemic throughout the world.  This is a significant health threat that needs to taken seriously.  

[surferp]

I know this site "is/may be" considered a dissident site but let's forget about that for a moment, I just want to know whether a positive western blot test in one country is the same for other countries.

[surferp]

So does this site lie?

http://www.****.***

Or they have already "standardized" the western blot tests? If they do, then what is the criteria for a positive western blot say in the US, UK, France, Australia, Canada? If you know kindly post it as I only find the same chart from everywhere I look.

[Teak]

NO.

[surferp]

Hi Teak, is it true that a positive western blot confirmation test differs from country to country?

[Teak]

That's a denialist website and it's total BS.

[surferp]

Have anybody read the papers presented by the Perth group (www.theperthgroup.com)? I've been reading it and some other so-called AIDS "dissidents" and they do seem to have a point.

What do you think?

[VicRattlehead]

A person's HIV status is generally detected by conducting antibody tests.
You can ask the testing agency about whether your test includes HIV-2.

And as Teak said above AIDS is caused only by the HIV virus.

[Teak]

AIDS test? How about an HIV tests. No AIDS is not cause by anything other than HIV.