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HelpEpic Test Code LAB3688 HIV-1 and HIV-2 Antibody Confirmation and Differentiation, Plasma
Additional Codes
MML:HVDIP
Ordering Guidance
Screening, supplemental, or confirmatory serologic tests for HIV-1 or HIV-2 antibodies cannot distinguish between active neonatal HIV infection and passive transfer of maternal HIV antibodies in children up to 2 years of age. Diagnosis of HIV infection in newborns and infants up to 2 years should be made by virologic tests, such as detection of HIV-RNA (HIP12 / HIV-1/HIV-2 RNA Detection, Plasma).
This test is not suitable for follow-up testing of patients with reactive results from any rapid HIV tests, regardless of specimen type tested, with the exception of patients who were reactive by the Determine HIV-1/-2 Antigen/Antibody Combo rapid point-of-care test on serum or plasma (but not whole blood). Per the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended HIV testing algorithm, the patients with reactive results from any rapid HIV tests should be tested subsequently with laboratory-based HIV antigen and antibody combination immunoassays, such as HIVDX / HIV-1 and HIV-2 Antigen and Antibody Diagnostic Evaluation, Plasma.
If specimens are autopsy or cadaver blood sources, the proper US Food and Drug Administration-licensed assay is HV1CD / HIV-1 and HIV-2 Antibodies for Cadaveric or Hemolyzed Specimens, Serum.
New York State clients: This test should not be requested for maternal/newborn HIV screening on specimens originating in New York State, due to state regulatory requirements for expedited result reporting.
Necessary Information
Date of collection is required.
Specimen Required
Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)
Collection Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Centrifuge blood collection tube per manufacturer's instructions (eg, centrifuge and aliquot within 2 hours of collection for BD Vacutainer tubes).
2. Aliquot plasma into plastic vial
Useful For
Confirmation and differentiation of HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies in plasma specimens that show reactive results with third-(HIV-1/-2 antibody only) and 4th-generation (HIV antigen and antibody) HIV serologic assays
This test is not useful as a screening test for HIV infection in symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals.
This test is not to be used as a screening or confirmatory test for blood donor specimens.
Disease States
- HIV-2 infection
- HIV infection
Reflex Tests
| Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIP12 | HIV-1/HIV-2 RNA Detect, P | Yes | No |
| HIVQN | HIV-1 RNA Detect/Quant, P | Yes | No |
Testing Algorithm
This test is for confirmation and differentiation of HIV-1/2 antibodies (Ab). If the following result types are obtained, HIV-1/HIV-2 RNA detection will be performed at an additional charge:
-Negative for both HIV-1 Ab and HIV-2 Ab
-Indeterminate for HIV-1 Ab but negative for HIV-2 Ab
-Negative for HIV-1 Ab but indeterminate for HIV-2 Ab
-Indeterminate for both HIV-1 Ab and HIV-2 Ab
-Positive for both HIV-1 Ab and HIV-2 Ab
If the following result types are obtained, HIV-1 RNA detection and quantification will be performed at an additional charge:
-Positive for HIV-1 Ab and negative for HIV-2 Ab
-Positive for HIV-1 Ab and indeterminate for HIV-2 Ab
For more information see HIV Testing Algorithm (Fourth Generation Screening Assay), Including Neonatal Testing and Follow-up of Reactive Rapid Serologic Test Results.
Special Instructions
Method Name
Rapid Immunochromatographic Assay
Reporting Name
HIV Ab Confirm / Differentiation, PSpecimen Type
PlasmaSpecimen Minimum Volume
0.8 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plasma | Frozen (preferred) | 30 days | |
| Refrigerated | 6 days |
Reject Due To
| Gross hemolysis | OK |
| Gross lipemia | OK |
| Gross icterus | OK |
Clinical Information
AIDS is caused by 2 known types of HIV. HIV type 1 (HIV-1) is found in patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex and in asymptomatic infected individuals at high risk for AIDS. The virus is transmitted by sexual contact, by exposure to infected blood or blood products, or from an infected mother to her fetus or infant. HIV type 2 (HIV-2) infection is endemic only in West Africa, and it has been identified in individuals who had sexual relations with individuals from that geographic region. HIV-2 is similar to HIV-1 in viral morphology, overall genomic structure, and its ability to cause AIDS.
Antibodies against HIV-1 and HIV-2 are usually not detectable until 6 to 12 weeks following exposure and are almost always detectable by 12 months. They may fall to undetectable levels (ie, seroreversion) in the terminal stage of AIDS when the patient's immune system is severely depressed.
Routine serologic screening of patients at risk for HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection usually begins with a HIV-1/-2 antigen and/or antibody screening test, which may be performed by various US Food and Drug Administration-approved assay methods, including rapid HIV antibody tests, enzyme immunoassays, and chemiluminescent immunoassays. In testing algorithms that begin with these methods, supplemental or confirmatory testing should be requested only for specimens that are repeatedly reactive by these methods according to assay manufacturers' instructions for use.
Reference Values
Negative
Interpretation
Negative results for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies usually indicate the absence of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection. However, in patients with reactive initial combined HIV-1/-2 antigen and antibody test results, such negative results do not rule-out acute or early HIV infection. HIP12 / HIV-1/HIV-2 RNA Detection, Plasma will be performed automatically per testing algorithm.
Positive HIV-1 antibody but negative HIV-2 antibody results indicate the presence of HIV-1 infection. Together with reactive initial combined HIV-1/-2 antigen and antibody test results, individuals with such results are presumed to have HIV-1 infection. HIVQN / HIV-1 RNA Detection and Quantification, Plasma will be performed automatically per testing algorithm.
Positive HIV-1 antibody but indeterminate HIV-2 antibody results indicate the presence of HIV-1 infection with probable cross-reactivity of HIV-1 antibodies with HIV-2 antigens on the assay strip. HIVQN will be performed automatically per testing algorithm.
Indeterminate HIV-1 antibody but negative HIV-2 antibody results suggest either very early HIV-1 infection (in individuals with risk factors) or the presence of nonspecific cross-reactivity between the patients' specimens and HIV-1 antigens on the assay strip. HIP12 will be performed automatically per testing algorithm.
Negative HIV-1 antibody but indeterminate HIV-2 antibody results may be due to acute HIV-1 infection, very early HIV-2 infection (in individuals with risk factors), or the presence of nonspecific cross-reactivity between the patients' specimens and HIV-2 antigens on the assay strip. HIP12 will be performed automatically per testing algorithm.
Positive results for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies suggest probable presence of HIV-1 and HIV-2 coinfection. However, such results may be rarely due to either HIV-1 infection with HIV-2 antibody cross-reactivity or HIV-2 infection with HIV-1 antibody cross-reactivity (eg, absence of HIV-1 p24 and p31 bands). Verification of a first-time positive test result is recommended for the diagnosis of HIV infection. HIP12 will be performed automatically per testing algorithm.
Indeterminate results for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies indicate either very early HIV infection (in individuals with risk factors) or the presence of nonspecific cross-reactivity between the patients' specimens and HIV antigens on the assay strip. Nonspecific cross-reactivity may be due to recent non-HIV infections, hypergammaglobulinemic states, connective tissue disorders, or pregnancy (alloantibodies). HIP12 will be performed automatically per testing algorithm.
Negative HIV-1 antibody but positive HIV-2 antibody results indicate the presence of HIV-2 infection. Together with a reactive initial HIV-1/-2 antigen and antibody screening test results, individuals with such results are presumed to have HIV-2 infection. Additional testing with a newly submitted whole blood specimen for FHV2Q / HIV-2 DNA/RNA Qualitative Real-Time PCR is recommended to verify and confirm the diagnosis of HIV-2 infection prior to initiating antiretroviral treatment.
Reactive HIV-1 antibody but positive HIV-2 antibody results usually indicate the presence of HIV-2 infection with HIV-1 antibody cross-reactivity (eg, presence of only HIV-1 gp41 and/or gp160 band). However, such results may be rarely due to HIV-1 and HIV-2 coinfection. Verification of a first-time positive test result is recommended for the diagnosis of HIV-2 infection by submitting a whole blood specimen for FHV2Q.
Indeterminate HIV-1 antibody but positive HIV-2 antibody results indicate the presence of HIV-2 infection with probable cross-reactivity of HIV-2 antibodies with HIV-1 antigens on the assay strip. Verification of a first-time positive test result is recommended for the diagnosis of HIV-2 infection by submitting a whole blood specimen for FHV2Q.
For more information see HIV Testing Algorithm (Fourth Generation Screening Assay), Including Neonatal Testing and Follow-up of Reactive Rapid Serologic Test Results.
Cautions
A negative result for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies does not rule-out acute HIV infection.
All initially positive supplemental or confirmatory HIV test results should be verified by submitting a second specimen for repeat testing. Such positive HIV test results are required under laws in many states in the United States to be reported to the departments of health of the respective states where the patients reside.
Participation in the recipients of HIV-1 vaccine (eg, participants in HIV-1 vaccine study trials) may develop vaccine-specific antibodies that may cross-react with this test and yield to the vaccine giving a positive, indeterminate, or unreadable HIV-1 antibody result, while they may or may not be infected with HIV-1.
Assay performance characteristics have not been established for the following specimen characteristics:
-Heat-inactivated specimens
-Cadaveric specimens
-Presence of particulate matter
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
Report Available
1 to 3 daysSpecimen Retention Time
14 daysPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
CPT Code Information
86701
86702
87535 (if appropriate)
87538 (if appropriate)
87536 (if appropriate)
NY State Approved
YesForms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send an Infectious Disease Serology Test Request (T916) with the specimen.