5th International AIDS Conference Montreal, Quebec, Canada — Jun 4-9, 1989

Int Conf AIDS 1989 Jun 4-9; 5:162 (abstract no. A.509)
Leinikki P, Hakulinen J, Kantanen ML, Brummer-Korvenkontio H; National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland

OBJECTIVE: To screen for HIV-2 cases in Finland and to evaluate a new test employing HIV-1 and HIV-2 specific synthetic peptides as antigens.

METHODS: Serum samples sent for routine HIV-testing from healthy individuals and HIV risk groups were tested by an ELISA with either a combination of, or individual HIV-1 or HIV-2 specific synthetic peptides representing the N-terminal regions of GP-41 (COMBI-test, Pharmacia Inc. Uppsala, Sweden).

RESULTS: Of the 5221 sera negative with other tests, 9 were repeatedly reactive in the COMBI-test indicating a specificity of 99.84. Among the 25 true positive sera 23 gave no or very little activity with HIV-2 compatible with true HIV-1 infections. Two samples, originating from the same individual reacted with the HIV-2 specific peptide. They also showed GP-reactivity in HIV-2 western blots. The patient had worked in endemic areas of Africa before returning to Finland. One falsely reactive sera also showed high activity against HIV-2.

CONCLUSION: The result indicates that the test has good specificity and is able to reveal HIV-2 positive cases among samples thought to be HIV-1 positives by conventional techniques.

890604
A509

Copyright © 1989 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.