If HIV Antigen and Antibody, 4th Generation Screen is Repeatedly Reactive, then HIV-1/2 Antibody Differentiation will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 86701, 86702).
(Specimen Container)
Serum Separator Tube (SST)
(Transport Temperature)
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room temperature | 72 Hours |
| Refrigerated | 5 Days |
| Frozen | 30 Days |
Gross hemolysis, Frozen SST tube
Serum: Collect in a serum separator tube or red-top tube (no gel). The tube should be centrifuged after clotting. Spun serum separator tubes may be submitted at room temperature or refrigerated unopened without transfer to a plastic, screw-cap vial. Red-top tube (no gel) serum should be transferred to a plastic, screw-cap vial and submitted for testing.
Plasma: Collect in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube and centrifuge tube within 24 hours of collection. Transfer plasma to a plastic, screw-cap vial, label as plasma, and submit for testing.
Submitted tubes must be labeled with patient identifier and submitted only for HIV testing.
HIV-1/2 Antigen and Antibodies, Fourth Generation, with Reflexes – This test is used to help diagnose HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection, including acute infection, and to differentiate HIV-1 from HIV-2. It is consistent with the HIV diagnostic algorithm proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can be used in adults, including pregnant women, and in children at least 2 years old.
This test allows detection of acute HIV-1 infection based on the presence of p24 antigen, before seroconversion occurs, allowing for earlier diagnosis than with previous tests. It can also detect HIV-1 and HIV-2 post-seroconversion, based on antibodies. If the HIV-1/HIV-2 antigen/antibody test is positive, an antibody-based HIV-1/HIV-2 test is done (at additional charge) to confirm infection and identify whether it is caused by HIV-1 or HIV-2. However, the HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation test will be negative during acute infection (prior to development of specific antibodies). If the antibody-based HIV-1/HIV-2 test is negative, the blood specimen will be reflex-tested for the presence of HIV-1 RNA (at additional charge) to identify patients with acute HIV-1 infection
Non-Reactive
