Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1987. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The Associated Press; Friday, September 4, 1987
Screening tests for AIDS now rely on detecting antibodies produced by the body's immune system as it battles AIDS virus infection. But it can take as long as six months after exposure to the AIDS virus for antibodies to develop, authorities say.
The new test detects the presence in blood of an AIDS virus antigen, a protein component of the virus. And it does so before antibodies develop. Dr. Harold Kessler of Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago reported that the antigen test correctly diagnosed AIDS virus infections in six patients in the early stages of infection.
The six patients were suffering from what is known as acute HIV infection, a short-term viral syndrome with symptoms similar to flu. HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is the technical name for the AIDS virus.
However, the AIDS antigen test is not likely to replace antibody testing, because it is not as sensitive, Kessler said.
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