Welcome to the Exeter Clinical Laboratory International website
NHS logo

HIV Serology

Microbiology


Specimen

Blood sample (serum)

Specimen container

Gold top clotted (5ml)

To Request On EPIC

For electronic requesting using EPIC (RDUH ONLY):

Search for: ‘HIV 1 and HIV 2 Antibodies/Antigen‘ or test code ‘LAB9255

Special Instructions

Please state whether patient has had exposure to HIV in Africa or South and East Asia

Please state if patient is contact of a known positive and date of contact

Please state if the patient has any clinical symptoms

Test Usage

This 4th generation test detects HIV antibodies and HIV p24 antigen in the blood. Detectable antibodies and antigen to HIV are produced 4 weeks after exposure to the virus in 95% of cases.

Initial negatives may require re- testing if within 4 weeks of contact, and repeated again at 3 months.

Availability

Processed locally in Microbiology at RDUH

Processing Time

24-48 hours

Urgent Specimen Instructions

Please contact the laboratory if urgent test required.

Reference

http://www.bhiva.org/HIV-testing-guidelines.aspx

Specimen Labelling Procedure
University of Exeter logo
UKAS Medical logo

9018

Royal Devon University Healthcare logo