Abbott Laboratories announced today that it has received FDA approval for a new assay which can detect HIV sooner than current HIV tests. While existing tests can diagnose infection by detecting HIV antibodies, Abbott’s new test can also detect the HIV’s p24 antigen, which is present in infected patients days before the formation of antibodies.
From the press release:
Abbott’s ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay is the first test approved in the United States that can simultaneously detect both HIV antigen and antibodies. HIV antigen is a protein produced by the virus immediately after infection, whereas antibodies are developed days later as the body works to fight off the infection. Studies have demonstrated that Abbott’s new test may detect HIV days earlier than antibody-only tests, which is important in controlling the spread of the virus.
Abbott’s press statement: FDA Approves First-of-Its-Kind HIV Test Which Can Detect HIV Days Earlier Than Current U.S. Tests…
Product page: ARCHITECT Family…