Ordering Guidance

If testing is needed for autopsy or cadaver blood sourced specimens, order the US Food and Drug Administration-licensed assay: HV1CD / HIV-1 and HIV-2 Antibodies for Cadaveric or Hemolyzed Specimens, Serum.

This test should not be used to test or screen pregnant individuals. For testing such patients, order HVPPS / HIV-1 and HIV-2 Antibody Confirmation and Differentiation Prenatal, Serum.

Screening, supplemental, or confirmatory serologic tests for HIV-1 or HIV-2 antibodies cannot distinguish between active neonatal HIV infection and passive transfer of maternal HIV antibodies in infants during the postnatal period (up to 2 years). Diagnosis of HIV infection in newborns and infants up to 2 years old should be made by virologic tests, such as detection of HIV RNA (HIP12 / HIV-1/HIV-2 RNA Detection, Plasma or HIS12 / HIV-1/HIV-2 RNA Detection, Serum).

This test is not useful for follow-up testing of patients with reactive results from any rapid HIV tests. Per the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended HIV testing algorithm, these patients should be tested subsequently with laboratory-based HIV antigen and antibody combination immunoassays, such as HIVDX / HIV-1 and HIV-2 Antigen and Antibody Diagnostic Evaluation, Plasma or HIVDS / HIV-1 and HIV-2 Antigen and Antibody Diagnostic Evaluation, Serum.

Necessary Information

Date of collection is required.

Specimen Required

Collection Container/Tube: Serum gel

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1.5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Centrifuge blood collection tube per manufacturer's instructions (eg, centrifuge within 2 hours of collection for BD Vacutainer tubes).

2. Aliquot serum into plastic vial.