
Diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV-1) is normally carried out by serum testing for HIV-1 antibody. Recently, antibody testing in other body fluids such as saliva and urine have been attempted. In this study, we examined HIV-1 antibody patterns in urine by Western blot assay as compared to that found in serum. Out of 44 sero-positive samples by Western blot assay we found 43 to be HIV-1 antibody positive in the urine, whereas all 40 sero-negative samples were negative in urine. Thus the sensitivity of urine testing was 97.7% with 100% specificity when compared to serum testing by the Western blot assay. In the analysis of the antibody pattern in urine, we found 6.8% of p17, 68% of p24, and 47.7% of p39 in the core proteins; 72.7% of p31, 61.4% of p51, and 68.2% of p66 in the polymerase; and 63.6% of gp41, 75% of gp120, and 97.7% of gp160 in the envelope proteins. The data obtained supports the selection of the HIV-1 antigen subtype-E to develop a home test kit using urine. Urine testing for HIV-1 antibody is convenient, non-invasive, safe, and easily performed at home. However, if the urine is positive, the confirmation test on serum is needed.
Base Sequence, Blotting, Western, AIDS Serodiagnosis, HIV Antibodies, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Sensitivity and Specificity, HIV-1, Humans, DNA Primers
Base Sequence, Blotting, Western, AIDS Serodiagnosis, HIV Antibodies, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Sensitivity and Specificity, HIV-1, Humans, DNA Primers
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