A MODIFIED ELISA AND WESTERN-BLOT ACCURATELY DETERMINE ANTI-HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 ANTIBODIES IN ORAL FLUIDS OBTAINED WITH A SPECIAL COLLECTING DEVICE
Ww. Emmons et al., A MODIFIED ELISA AND WESTERN-BLOT ACCURATELY DETERMINE ANTI-HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 ANTIBODIES IN ORAL FLUIDS OBTAINED WITH A SPECIAL COLLECTING DEVICE, The Journal of infectious diseases, 171(6), 1995, pp. 1406-1410
Serum and saliva from 195 known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-ser
opositive patients and 198 military personnel undergoing annual HIV se
rologic testing were evaluated in a prospective, blinded fashion for a
nti-HIV-1 antibodies. Oral specimens, collected with a device: designe
d to concentrate oral mucosal transudate from whole saliva, were teste
d by a modified ELISA and by Western blot. Serum was tested in a stand
ard manner. All 195 HIV-1-seroposi tive subjects had detectable anti-H
IV-1 antibodies in their saliva by ELISA; 190 saliva sample; were posi
tive by Western blot and 5 were indeterminate. None of the 198 militar
y personnel were positive by ELISA of serum or oral fluid. The sensiti
vity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for ELI
SA of saliva were each 100%. The serologic testing of oral mucosal tra
nsudate appears to be a simple, safe, sensitive, and specific method f
or detecting anti-HIV-1 antibodies.