A MODIFIED ELISA AND WESTERN-BLOT ACCURATELY DETERMINE ANTI-HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 ANTIBODIES IN ORAL FLUIDS OBTAINED WITH A SPECIAL COLLECTING DEVICE

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.