[Diagnosis of HIV by clinical pathological methods]

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)-I infection can be detected by the presence of HIV antigen, antibody to HIV, or gene of HIV itself in patient's blood. There are a considerable number of such antibody detecting methods (first generation) commercially available, but even the first was introduced in only mid-1985. These tests detect antibody in more than 90% of patients with confirmed AIDS. Recently, new antibody detecting methods (second generation) was produced using a single antigen (e.g. p 24, gp 41) of HIV-I by recombinant DNA or synthetic peptide. Furthermore, detection methods for DNA or RNA of HIV were developed and these methods are introduced in clinical use in near future.