Additional Information

For BJH Laboratory Use Only

Alternate Tube(s):

7 mL pink top (K₂EDTA) tube

7 mL mint green or dark green (lithium or sodium heparin), with or without gel

7mL pearl/white (K₂EDTA) with gel is acceptable for HIV differentiation test.

Analyte Stability:

Ambient temperature stability at 20° C to 25° C:  48 hours

Separated from cells refrigerated stability at 2° C to 8° C: 7 days

Frozen at </= -20° C stability: 90 days. Avoid more than 5 freeze/thaw cycles. Repeated freeze/thaw cycles can cause analyte deterioration. 

Laboratory Processing Instructions:

1.  Specimens that repeat reactive on the Cobas method will have HIV Ab differentiation testing  performed on Biorad Geenius.

2. If the differentiation test is reactive for HIV-1 antibodies only, or reactive for HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies, or is not reactive for HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies, HIV-1 RNA (viral load) test is recommended  to be performed with a separate specimen at BJH Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory.  If the differentiation test is reactive for HIV-2 antibodies, HIV-2 PCR may be considered.  HIV-2 infection is rare in the United States.  The patient's history and clinical condition can be considered if HIV-2 PCR testing is required.

3.  Confirmed HIV-1 positives are reported to the state within 3 days.  

Test performed in BJH Core lab. Processed by Cobas 8100 automated line for delivery to the Roche Cobas e801. Completed specimens are stored refrigerated for 5 days.