Why do HIV antibodies not work?

The reason? According to new findings from a team of researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), it’s at least partly due to the fact that our body’s natural HIV antibodies simply don’t have a long enough reach to effectively neutralize the viruses they are meant to target.

Can antibodies be ineffective?

There are also some people who either produce very little or very poor quality antibodies. In this case, although these people produce antibodies, the immunity is not very effective so they can experience prolonged infection with more severe symptoms. They are also likely to be re-infected at a later point in time.

What is the best antibody test for HIV?

The HIV antibody test recommended by the CDC is the HIV-1/2 antigen/antibody combination immunoassay test. If you test positive for HIV, the CDC recommends the following follow-up tests: HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation immunoassay. This test is to confirm HIV and find out whether you have HIV-1 or HIV-2. HIV-1 NAT (nucleic acid test).

What is the difference between HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibody tests?

Although tests which are sensitive to both types of viruses are widely available, only one antibody test currently available can specifically distinguish between antibodies to HIV-1 or HIV-2. Worldwide, the predominant virus is HIV-1. HIV-1 accounts for around 95\% of all infections worldwide.

How accurate are HIV tests for screening and diagnosis?

HIV Tests for Screening and Diagnosis. HIV tests are very accurate, but no test can detect the virus immediately after infection. How soon a test can detect infection depends upon different factors, including the type of test being used.

Are lab-based HIV tests still relevant?

Lab-based tests still outperform at-site, point-of-care HIV tests, most especially in cases of recent HIV exposure. With that being said, high levels of sensitivity are only part of the reason why certain tests are preferred over others. For example, a significant number of people fail to return for their results after testing.