Patent ID: 6337179
Filing Date: 2002-01-08
Classification: A61K,C07K,C12N,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for detecting antibodies against an HIV-1 retrovirus in a body fluid, said method comprising:(a) collecting body fluid from a human subject; (b) providing a control sample; (c) contacting said body fluid with said control sample; (d) contacting said body fluid with a composition comprising a polypeptide fragment, wherein said polypeptide fragment binds to antibodies in LAS patient sera, and wherein said polypeptide fragment comprises an HIV-1ELI-specific epitope that does not react with antibodies directed against HIV-1IIIB, HIV-1BRU, or HIV-1ARV-2. (e) detecting the immunological complexes formed both between said body fluid and said control sample and between said body fluid and said composition; and (f) comparing the level of immunological complexes formed between said body fluid and said control sample with the level of immunological complexes formed between said body fluid and said composition, wherein a higher level of immunological complex formation between said body fluid and said composition is indicative of the presence of antibodies against said HIV-1 retrovirus in the body fluid.