APPLICATION OF A RAPID ASSAY FOR DETECTION OF ANTIBODIES TO HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS IN URINE

The use of rapid, simple tests to detect antibodies to human immunodef iciency virus (HIV) in urine could be valuable for several testing sit uations, such as in private offices, for epidemiologic surveys, and in developing countries. The authors evaluated the performance of the SU D(TM) HIV type 1 test to detect antibody to HIV-1 peptides in urine. T est performance and applicability of the SUDS test were compared with a routine Food and Drug Administration-licensed enzyme-linked immunoso rbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot using 139 serum and urine pairs c ollected from autopsy cases. Using a modified procedure when testing u rine by the SUDS test, results indicated that a total of 15 serum/urin e pairs were HIV-1 antibody positive by both the SUDS test and ELISA; all could be confirmed positive by Western blot. One sample produced d iscrepant results. The SUDS test produced no false-positive results wh en testing serum or urine, as compared with ELISA, and no false-negati ve results when compared with the Western blot. For optimal accuracy o f detection of antibodies using urine, at least 100 mu L of sample was required. By Western blot analysis, antibody profiles in urine were g enerally weaker than in serum, but confirmation of positivity was not compromised when larger: volumes were used. The authors concluded that this rapid HIV-1 test, when used to detect antibodies to HIV-1 in uri ne, is accurate, easy to perform, and appropriate for use in certain t esting situations.