HIV-1/2 Ab Confirmatory




Test Mnemonic

HIV12M

CPT Codes

  • 86689 - QTY (1)

LOINC ®

69668-2

Aliases

  • Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
  • HIT Types 1 and 2 Antibodies
  • HIV Antibody Differentiation
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Performing Laboratory

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.5 mLSerumSST (Gold) Refrigerated 

Alternate Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.5 mLPlasmaEDTA (Lavender) Refrigerated 

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.25 mL     

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
Ambient48 hours
Refrigerated7 days
Frozen1 year

Days Performed

Mon - Fri

Turnaround Time

1 - 3 days

Methodology

Name Description
Qualitative Immunoassay 

Special Info

Testing should not be performed on pediatric patients under the age of 2 years.

Clinical Info

A positive assay result interpretation confirms the presence of specific antibodies to HIV-1 and/or HIV-2 in the sample. HIV and AIDS-related conditions are clinical syndromes caused by HIV-1 and HIV-2 and their diagnoses can only be established clinically.

Clinical Limitation

False negative results may occur in individuals infected with HIV-1 and/or HIV-2 who are receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. A negative or indeterminate result does not preclude the possibility of exposure to HIV or infection with HIV. An antibody response to a recent exposure may take several months to reach detectable levels. It is recommended that testing be repeated on a specimen freshly drawn after 2-4 weeks. A person who has antibodies to HIV-1 or HIV-2 is presumed to be infected with the virus; however, a person who has participated in in an HIV vaccine study may develop antibodies to the vaccine and may or may not be infected with HIV. It is recommended that testing be repeated on a freshly drawn sample after 2-4 weeks. An indeterminate interpretation does not exclude the possibility of early seroconversion of the test subject or a cross-reaction with other retroviruses. The homology between HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses can lead to cross reactivity between anti-HIV-1 and anti-HIV-2 antibodies. It is recommended that testing be repeated on a specimen freshly drawn after 2-4 weeks. Samples that met the HIV-1 positive criteria may, in some rare case, show cross reactivity on one of the HIV-2 envelope bands. In most of the cases, this profile that confirms an HIV-1 infection does not exclude the rare possibilty of a secondary HIV-2 seroconversion (co-infection). Samples which meet the HIV-2 positive criteria can show cross reactivity on one or more HIV-1 bands. In most cases, an HIV-1 indeterminate profile associated with an HIV-2 positive profile is a true HIV-2 only infection. However, it does not exclude the possibility of a secondary HIV-1 seroconversion (co-infection).