Early days, early detection, early treatment for HIV

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May 2016—In 1985, when the first test for HIV—then called human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III—became available, it was approved for screening blood products but not for diagnostic use. A diagnostic test for antibody to HIV-1 was soon approved. Over the subsequent 30-plus years, further iterations of HIV screening tests have been made, with increasing sensitivity and specificity and a shorter window to detection. Fifth-generation tests are now under review. CAP TODAY asked Eileen Burd, PhD, D(ABMM), to discuss the evolution of HIV diagnostics and algorithms for using them and to give a qualitative evaluation of the pending fifth-generation assay.

Dr. Burd is director of clinical microbiology, Emory University Hospital, and associate professor, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta.