ANTI-HIV ANTIBODY IN SALIVA - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF THE COMPONENTS OF SALIVA, TESTING METHODOLOGIES AND COLLECTION SYSTEMS

The various components of saliva, namely mixed saliva, parotid saliva, submandibular saliva, crevicular fluid and minor (labial) gland secre tions, were collected from 63 known HIV antibody seropositive patients . A commercial test system, Wellcozyme HIV 1+2, and an antibody captur e ELISA (GACELISA), were compared for sensitivity against all componen ts. Sensitivity of the GACELISA system was 100% in 123 mixed saliva, 1 21 parotid saliva and 127 labial fluid samples, and 98% in 99 submandi bular samples and 127 crevicular fluid samples. Respective figures for Wellcozyme 1+2 were 92%, 55%, 73%, 66% and 63%. Mixed saliva was most easily, conveniently and effectively collected using a plain Salivett e. In 241 Salivette samples examined from the 63 patients, GACELISA pr oved 100% sensitive, and Wellcozyme 95% sensitive. Another form of Sal ivette impregnated with citric acid was unsuitable for GACELISA and ga ve a false negative value of 45%. In 197 samples from the gingival mar gin taken by a dry swab, GACELISA showed a sensitivity of 98% and Well cozyme 81%. The most sensitive method for demonstrating anti-HIV antib ody in saliva is to collect mixed saliva with the plain Salivette syst em and assay anti-HIV antibody levels by GACELISA. (C) Munksgaard, 199 6.