Three ways to help you detect AIDS

AIDS is extremely harmful. Once contracted, it can cause systemic diseases and even be life-threatening. Experts say that in order to cure it, it must be discovered and tested as soon as possible. Common methods for detecting AIDS include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, rapid method (gold label method), protein immunoblotting (WB), etc., all of which are very effective.

1. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay : also known as "enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay", abbreviated as ELISA. Its core is to allow antibodies to bind to enzyme complexes and then detect them through color development. The steps are very simple: ELISA uses serum for testing. First, the blood must be agglutinated for at least half an hour, and then the serum is taken. After the enzyme complex is diluted with diluent, serum, negative and positive controls, and quality control products are added. After one hour of incubation, wash the plate, add substrate, and after half an hour of reaction in the dark, add the stop solution to complete the reaction, and then read the results. The result is determined to be negative or positive by the numerical value.

Strictly speaking, if the first test is positive, no matter which laboratory it is, a second test must be conducted in accordance with the CDC's HIV operating procedures. The second method must be different from the first. If it is still positive, it will be sent to the AIDS confirmation laboratory for confirmation.

2. Rapid method : that is, the "gold label method", also known as the "colloidal gold method". The gold label method is an internationally advanced in vitro diagnostic method that is sensitive, specific, rapid, simple and highly accurate. The test results can be obtained in a short time using only a special test strip. Gold label method (AIDS test strip): take blood and drop it on the test strip, and observe whether the test strip changes color for 15 minutes.

The rapid HIV test can be done at home. It is simple and convenient to operate and does not require special instruments. First, drop two drops of blood on the HIV test paper, then drop one drop of diluent, and then wait 15 minutes to read the result. The results are also very simple to interpret. If there is a straight red line on the test paper, it means it is negative. If there are two red lines, it means it is positive. If the test result is positive, retesting is required according to the HIV testing process.

Self-testing for HIV using rapid methods (HIV test strips) should be conducted under the guidance of professionals to ensure that the entire self-testing process is standardized and correct, and the results are accurate and reliable.

3. Western Blotting (WB)

This method is commonly used in AIDS diagnosis laboratories and is mainly used for confirmation tests. When the initial screening result is positive, this method needs to be used for confirmation tests. The basic principle is that the whole HIV virus antigen is subjected to SDS-PAGE electrophoresis to separate protein bands of different molecular weights, and then these separated different protein bands are transferred to the nitrocellulose membrane. The membrane is cut into strips, and each strip of nitrocellulose membrane contains HIV virus antigens separated by electrophoresis. The serum sample to be tested was diluted to 1/100 with diluent, and then added directly to the nitrocellulose membrane and shaken at a constant temperature to allow it to fully contact and react. If the serum contains anti-HIV antibodies, they will bind to the antigen bands on the membrane strip. After adding anti-human IgG enzyme conjugate and substrate, the reactive antigen-antibody binding band will appear purple-brown, and the result can be determined based on the appearance of the bands.