Blood sample (serum)
Gold top clotted (5ml)
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
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.
Local test
24-48 hours
Please contact the laboratory if urgent test required.
http://www.bhiva.org/HIV-testing-guidelines.aspx
Specimen Labelling Procedure
9018
