REASON FOR TESTING OF HIV WESTERN BLOT

HIV Western Blot test is advised in individuals who are HIV positive by RAPID CARD or with following risk factors like:

• Has an partner who is HIV positive
• Is a man who has had sex with another man
• Had unprotected sex with more than one partner and is not sure of HIV status of others.
• Has used recreational drugs by injection, especially by needle exchange.
• Has had sex with anyone who falls into one of the categories listed above or is uncertain about their sexual partner's risk behaviours.
• Patients of Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and other Sexually transmitted Diseases.
• A health care worker who is in direct contact of blood and body secretions

WHAT IS BEING TESTED IN HIV WESTERN BLOT

The western blot is an antibody detection test. However, unlike the ELISA method, the viral proteins are separated first and immobilized. In subsequent steps, the binding of serum antibodies to specific HIV proteins is visualized.

INTERPRETATION OF HIV WESTERN BLOT TEST RESULT

HIV Western Blot is the confirmatory test for HIV infection.

POSITIVE - Positive is considered by the presence of at least two of the three bands representing the envelope bands (gp160, gp120, and gp41 of HIV-1 and gp36 of HIV-2) and gag gene p24.

NEGATIVE- Absence of all the bands except control band is considered as negative test.

HIV WESTERN BLOT REFERENCE RANGE

NOT APPLICABLE

HIV WESTERN BLOT RELATED TEST

Additional test (to be done only in HIV positive patients)

CD4 COUNT - provide prognostic information about health status of patient. (Link CD4 COUNT)

HIV viral load provide valuable prognostic information of the patient on treatment. (Link HIV viral load)

HIV Genotyping provide information regarding the resistance developed in patient of HIV hence it help clinician to provide better Anti-retroviral treatment to patient. (Link HIV Genotyping).