Evaluation on the Cambridge Biotech HIV-1 Western blot kit

Objective To evaluate the Cambridge Biotech HIV-1 Western blot kit and to assay the Sensitivity and Specificity in the different HIV infected status groups in the fields. Methods To collect the serum specimens from 645 cases, using Cambridge Biotech HIV-1 Western blot kit and using Genelabs Diagnostics HIV blot 2.2 Western blot kit to confirm the presence of HIV antibody through ELISA test. Results On HIV antibody positive individuals, Cambridge Biotech HIV-1 Western blot kit and Genelabs Diagnostics HIV blot 2.2 Western blot kit showed positive reaction. The sensitivity of both western blot kits was 100% . Of 398 serum specimens from ELISA testing on HIV antibody negative individuals, 23 showed indeterminate when tested by Cambridge Biotech HIV-1 Western blot kit and 86 showed indeterminate when tested by Genelabs Diagnostics HIV blot 2.2 Western blot kit. In such HIV screen test negative groups, the rates of specificity of Cambridge kit were 94.22% and 78.39% for Genelabs kit respectively. Conclusion The Cambridge Biotech HIV-1 Western blot kit had much higher specificity then Genelabs Diagnostics HIV blot 2.2 Western blot kit.