What is HIV antigen?

HIV antigen is a protein found in the core structure of the virus of human immunodeficiency (HIV), an organism that causes AIDS. This protein is known as p24 and its presence is used as an infection test. At the age of 90, this test was used in the United States to examine blood before entering the blood supply. More specific tests are now available for most HIV testing. The P24 antigen test is currently used in the first few weeks after the person was infected before she had a chance to build antibodies to the virus.

Antigens are molecules that react with the antibody. Each individual produces millions of different antibodies, each specific to different molecules. Such antibodies can be used to test the presence of infectious organisms. In general, such tests are designed to respond to protein on the surface of the body. In this case, the P24 protein is located outside the virus, as a soluble protein after a virus replicated. If a person tests positive on hiIn the ELISA test, their blood is exposed to a stricter test known as western blot . If both tests are positive, the person is considered infected.

Protein P24 is produced during the initial phase of infection and then decreases to undetectable levels because it binds to HIV antibodies. If the person is newly infected and has not yet developed HIV antibodies, the classic HIV test will be ineffective in the diagnosis of their infection. V těchto případech se pro měření hladin p24 používá test HIV antigenu.

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modified ELISA test is used with antibodies on the P24 protein. The negative result of HIV antigen is unclear. This could mean that the person is not informed or that he has a virus, but produces a low level of P24. A positive result is a definitive sign of infection.

This test can be used if there is a good reason to suspect that infection may occur, for example, when exposedemployment or rape cases. The Blood Blood Test for the P24 protein was the most modern HIV testing test. The HIV antigen test is not used as wide as it has been in the past. There are now tests that can directly measure RNA virus and, more precisely, to diagnose soon during the infection.