| |
|
Click on the first letter in the test name:
HIV ELISA/Western blot Article
|
|
HIV ELISA/Western blot elisa
Definition
HIV ELISA/Western blot is a set of blood tests used in the diagnosis of chronic infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The HIV ELISA is a screening test for the diagnosis of HIV infection. If this test is positive, it must be confirmed with a second test called the Western blot, which is more specific and will confirm if someone is truly HIV positive (there are other conditions that may inaccurately produce a positive ELISA test result, including lupus, Lyme disease, and syphilis).
Alternative Names
HIV test
Why the HIV ELISA/Western blot is Performed
HIV ELISA/Western bloting for HIV infection is performed and recommended for many reasons. Reasons for testing include screening in high-risk groups (men who have sex with men, injection drug users, commercial sex workers, etc); screening in pregnant women (proper treatment can often prevent transmission of the virus to the fetus), and screening individuals with certain conditions and infections (such as Kaposi's sarcoma, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia).
How the HIV ELISA/Western blot is Performed
Blood is drawn from a vein on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and an elastic band is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the band to fill with blood.
A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the band is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
For an infant or young child:
The area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.
How to Prepare for the HIV ELISA/Western blot
No physical preparation is necessary. HIV testing requires written consent in most U.S. states.
For infants and children:
The preparation you can provide for this test depends on your child's age and experience. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics:
- Infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
- Toddler test or procedure preparation (1 - 3 years)
- Preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 - 6 years)
- Schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 - 12 years)
- Adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 - 18 years)
How the HIV ELISA/Western blot Will Feel
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Risks
The risks associated with having blood drawn are:
- Excessive bleeding
- Fainting or feeling lightheaded
- Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
- Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
- Multiple punctures to locate veins
Considerations
Individuals at high risk (men who have sex with men, injection drug users, commercial sex workers, etc.) should be periodically tested for HIV.
If early (acute or primary HIV infection) is suspected, additional tests (HIV viral load) will be needed to confirm this diagnosis, as the HIV ELISA/Western blot will often be negative during this window period.
Normal Results
A negative test result is normal. However, early HIV infection (termed acute HIV infection or primary HIV infection) often results in a negative test.
What Abnormal Results Mean
The ELISA is used as a screening test. A positive result does not necessarily mean that the person has HIV infection. There are certain conditions that may lead to a false positive result, such as Lyme disease, syphilis, and lupus. A positive ELISA test is always followed by a confirmatory test termed Western blot. A positive Western blot is generally regarded as conclusive for an HIV infection.
Negative tests do not necessarily rule out HIV infection, because there is an interval (called the "window period") between HIV infection and the appearance of measurable anti-HIV antibodies. If a person is suspected of having acute or primary HIV infection, and of being in the "window period," a negative HIV ELISA and Western blot will not rule out HIV infection. Additional testing for HIV viral load will need to be performed.
Email to a Friend
Typical mistypes for HIV ELISA/Western blot
giv elisa/western blot, biv elisa/western blot, niv elisa/western blot, jiv elisa/western blot, uiv elisa/western blot, yiv elisa/western blot, huv elisa/western blot, hjv elisa/western blot, hkv elisa/western blot, hov elisa/western blot, h9v elisa/western blot, h8v elisa/western blot, hic elisa/western blot, hib elisa/western blot, hig elisa/western blot, hif elisa/western blot, hiv wlisa/western blot, hiv slisa/western blot, hiv dlisa/western blot, hiv rlisa/western blot, hiv 4lisa/western blot, hiv 3lisa/western blot, hiv ekisa/western blot, hiv episa/western blot, hiv eoisa/western blot, hiv elusa/western blot, hiv eljsa/western blot, hiv elksa/western blot, hiv elosa/western blot, hiv el9sa/western blot, hiv el8sa/western blot, hiv eliaa/western blot, hiv eliza/western blot, hiv elixa/western blot, hiv elida/western blot, hiv eliea/western blot, hiv eliwa/western blot, hiv elisz/western blot, hiv eliss/western blot, hiv elisw/western blot, hiv elisq/western blot, hiv elisa/qestern blot, hiv elisa/aestern blot, hiv elisa/sestern blot, hiv elisa/eestern blot, hiv elisa/3estern blot, hiv elisa/2estern blot, hiv elisa/wwstern blot, hiv elisa/wsstern blot, hiv elisa/wdstern blot, hiv elisa/wrstern blot, hiv elisa/w4stern blot, hiv elisa/w3stern blot, hiv elisa/weatern blot, hiv elisa/weztern blot, hiv elisa/wextern blot, hiv elisa/wedtern blot, hiv elisa/weetern blot, hiv elisa/wewtern blot, hiv elisa/wesrern blot, hiv elisa/wesfern blot, hiv elisa/wesgern blot, hiv elisa/wesyern blot, hiv elisa/wes6ern blot, hiv elisa/wes5ern blot, hiv elisa/westwrn blot, hiv elisa/westsrn blot, hiv elisa/westdrn blot, hiv elisa/westrrn blot, hiv elisa/west4rn blot, hiv elisa/west3rn blot, hiv elisa/westeen blot, hiv elisa/westedn blot, hiv elisa/westefn blot, hiv elisa/westetn blot, hiv elisa/weste5n blot, hiv elisa/weste4n blot, hiv elisa/westerb blot, hiv elisa/westerm blot, hiv elisa/westerj blot, hiv elisa/westerh blot, hiv elisa/western vlot, hiv elisa/western nlot, hiv elisa/western hlot, hiv elisa/western glot, hiv elisa/western bkot, hiv elisa/western bpot, hiv elisa/western boot, hiv elisa/western blit, hiv elisa/western blkt, hiv elisa/western bllt, hiv elisa/western blpt, hiv elisa/western bl0t, hiv elisa/western bl9t, hiv elisa/western blor, hiv elisa/western blof, hiv elisa/western blog, hiv elisa/western bloy, hiv elisa/western blo6, hiv elisa/western blo5, iv elisa/western blot, hv elisa/western blot, hi elisa/western blot, hivelisa/western blot, hiv lisa/western blot, hiv eisa/western blot, hiv elsa/western blot, hiv elia/western blot, hiv elis/western blot, hiv elisawestern blot, hiv elisa/estern blot, hiv elisa/wstern blot, hiv elisa/wetern blot, hiv elisa/wesern blot, hiv elisa/westrn blot, hiv elisa/westen blot, hiv elisa/wester blot, hiv elisa/westernblot, hiv elisa/western lot, hiv elisa/western bot, hiv elisa/western blt, hiv elisa/western blo, ihv elisa/western blot, hvi elisa/western blot, hi velisa/western blot, hive lisa/western blot, hiv leisa/western blot, hiv eilsa/western blot, hiv elsia/western blot, hiv elias/western blot, hiv elis/awestern blot, hiv elisaw/estern blot, hiv elisa/ewstern blot, hiv elisa/wsetern blot, hiv elisa/wetsern blot, hiv elisa/wesetrn blot, hiv elisa/westren blot, hiv elisa/westenr blot, hiv elisa/wester nblot, hiv elisa/westernb lot, hiv elisa/western lbot, hiv elisa/western bolt, hiv elisa/western blto, hhiv elisa/western blot, hiiv elisa/western blot, hivv elisa/western blot, hiv elisa/western blot, hiv eelisa/western blot, hiv ellisa/western blot, hiv eliisa/western blot, hiv elissa/western blot, hiv elisaa/western blot, hiv elisa//western blot, hiv elisa/wwestern blot, hiv elisa/weestern blot, hiv elisa/wesstern blot, hiv elisa/westtern blot, hiv elisa/westeern blot, hiv elisa/westerrn blot, hiv elisa/westernn blot, hiv elisa/western blot, hiv elisa/western bblot, hiv elisa/western bllot, hiv elisa/western bloot, hiv elisa/western blott, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
