In the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) HIV testing algorithm, a positive initial screening test (HIV-1/2 antigen-antibody immunoassay) should be followed by an HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation assay.
What is the main purpose of the HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation assay?
1. To differentiate whether the person has acquired a single “founder” virus strain or multiple different strains of HIV
2. To differentiate whether the person has infection with HIV-1, HIV-2, or both
3. To differentiate whether the person has acquired a drug-resistant HIV strain
4. To differentiate whether the person has acute or chronic HIV