DEVELOPMENT OF AN HIV DIAGNOSTIC KIT

RECENT PUBLICATIONS SUGGEST THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A SIMPLE, SELF-CONTAINED KIT TO TEST FOR ANTIBODY TO THE HUMANIMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV). DURING PHASE I, IT IS INTENDED TO EXPAND THE PRELIMINARY STUDIES UTILIZING DOT-BLOT TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOP A RAPID, SPECIFIC, AND SENSITIVE TEST FOR DETECTION OF HIV ANTIBODY THAT MAY BE PUT INTO KIT FORM FOR USE IN THE NONLABORATORY SETTING (E.G., PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE, FIELD STUDIES, AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES). IN ADDITION, THE USE OF WHOLE BLOOD COLLECTED DIRECTLY FROM THE INDIVIDUAL ON FILTER PAPER WILL BE COMPARED WITH SERUM FOR DETERMING THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF HIV ANTIBODY. IN THE KIT, BLOOD OR SERUM WILL BE USED DIRECTLY IN THE TEST. IN PHASE II, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT TWO ADDITIONAL KITS WILLBE DEVELOPED THAT WILL INCORPORATE FEATURES OF BOTH THE ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY AND WESTERN BLOT AS WELL AS DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF ANTIBODY TO SELECTED VIRUSES OF CONCERN TO AIDS PATIENTS, I.E., HERPES SIMPLEX, CYTOMEGALOVIRUS, AND EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS.