How sensitive are the commercial assays for anti‐ HTLV III/LAV?

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Abstract
The sensitivity of nine commercial assays, Western blot, and a newly developed monoclonal antibody‐based assay for antibody to human T lymphotropic virus type III/lymphoadenopathy associated virus (anti‐HTLV III/LAV) were evaluated using a panel of mainly weak‐positive sera. In tests on 20 sera three commercial assays and a monoclonal‐based assay, representing two different solid‐phase methodologies, were found to be more sensitive than Western blot. Our findings suggest that Western blot cannot be depended upon as the sole confirmatory test for anti‐HTLV III/LAV. The continued use of the more sensitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), particularly those of dissimilar methodology, would be a more valid approach to confirmatory testing.