The orthodox view. When a retrovirus infects a cell, it injects its RNA into the cytoplasm of that cell along with the reverse transcriptase enzyme. The cDNA produced from the RNA template contains the virally derived genetic instructions and allows infection of the host cell to proceed. Antibodies bind to the antigens on the virus and kill or inactivate them in several ways.
Antigens can be any molecule that causes antibody production.
A mixture of broken-up HIV proteins called a whole viral lysate. In theory, if a person's blood contains any HIV antibodies, the Elisa will react. The Western Blot HIV proteins are separated onto a strip. If any antibodies cause a reaction, it can be determined exactly which HIV protein they are reacting to.