RAPID ASSAY FOR HIV-1 ANTIBODIES IN SALIVA

THERE IS A NEED FOR AN HIV-I ANTIBODY TEST THAT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR FIELD USE WITH SALIVA AND THAT IS RAPID, ACCURATE, CONVENIENT, AND INEXPENSIVE. SUCH A TEST WOULD BE ESPECIALLY VALUABLE IN WORK WITH I.V. DRUG ABUSERS AND PROSTITUTES, WHERE TIME WITH THE PATIENT IS BRIEF AND FOLLOWUP IS DIFFICULT. USE OF SALIVA ALLOWS FOR A RAPID "ON THE STREET" TEST, BECAUSE THE TIME, PRECAUTIONS, AND EQUIPMENT ATTENDANT WITH BLOOD DRAWING AND SERUM PREPARATION ARE ELIMINATED. THE AVOIDANCE OF NEEDLES MAKES THE ASSAY PARTICULARLY VALUABLE IN TESTING PRISON POPULATIONS. THIS PROJECT USES A SALIVA TEST WITH A COLUMN FORMAT TO CONCENTRATE THE ANTIBODIES FROM 1 TO 5 ML OF SALIVA ONTO A SMALL AMOUNT OF PROTEIN A-AGAROSE GEL. HAVING DEMONSTRATED THE ACCURACY AND SPEED OF THE TEST WITH SERUM AND SALIVA SAMPLES, EPITOPE, INC., NOW INTENDS TO EMBARK ON LARGER SCALE TESTING WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED MATCHED SALIVA AND SERUM SAMPLES FROM CONTROL AND HIV-I-INFECTED SUBJECTS. FURTHER IMPROVEMENT OF THE FORMATTING AND SENSITIVITY OF THE TEST WILL PREPARE IT FOR COMMERCIALIZATION.