The first diagnostic test that detects both HIV antigens and antibodies was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on Monday. The new test can reveal infections days earlier.
Antigens are proteins that are produced by the virus, microorganisms, or bacteria immediately after a person becomes infected. These proteins make the immune system produce antibodies, a protein in the blood that helps to fight off foreign substances, such as a virus. Antibodies take days to develop after the initial infection as the body works to fight it off.
According to CNN, the test, called ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay was developed to diagnose both HIV-1 and HIV-2 in adults, pregnant women and children 2 years or older. HIV-1 is responsible for most of the infections, while HIV-2 is seen mostly in West Africa. Both are transmitted the same way.
The test determines the substance’s composition and will be used to diagnose infections before antibodies actually appear.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibody-only tests can miss up to 10 percent of infections.
»Reuters: FDA approves more advanced HIV test
»BusinessWeek: Newly Approved HIV Test Can Spot Infection Earlier