. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection.
. HIV is transmitted by sexual contact, exposure to blood or blood products, and prenatal infection of a fetus or perinatal infection of a newborn.
. There is currently no effective cure for HIV. However, with proper medical care, the condition can be controlled.
. When people with HIV do not get treatment, they typically progress through three stages. Stage 1, the most contagious phase, involves acute infection with flu-like symptoms. Stage 2 is a chronic infection with no symptoms, but HIV is still transmissible at this stage. Stage 3 is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the most severe stage of HIV infection, with an increasing number of opportunistic infections or other serious illnesses.
. The test is used for the simultaneous qualitative detection of HIV p24 antigen and antibodies to HIV type 1 and/or type 2 (HIV-1/HIV-2).