DETECTION OF ANTI-HIV ANTIBODIES IN SALIVA

It is sometimes difficult in clinical practice to identify carriers of the AIDS virus. Such identification is of unquestionable value in ora l pathology, both for determining the pathogenesis of certain lesions and for assessing their significance to the patient. We evaluated seve ral commercially available diagnostic techniques for the detection of anti-HIV antibodies in serum, and examined the feasibility of adapting such techniques to tests on saliva. The technique chosen for experime ntal adaptation required only slight modifications for use with this m edium. We compared the results obtained in serum from intravenous drug users with a western blot assay designed to detect p24 viral protein, against the findings with a test designed to detect salivary antibodi es. The likelihood of cross-reactions in saliva containing high concen trations of other antiviral antibodies was also studied. The specifici ty and sensitivity of the modified saliva test were 100% and 96% respe ctively, and no cross-reactions were observed.