Synthetic peptide assays to detect human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 in seropositive individuals

Detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is the standard method to screen blood products. With the description of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 as a second retrovirus involved in the pathogenesis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, additional laboratory testing is required to screen blood products. However, owing to the serological cross-reactivity of human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 at the molecular level, it is impossible to distinguish human immunodeficiency virus type 2-infected blood with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays formatted with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 viral lysates. Synthetic peptides from the conserved envelope region of the human immunodeficiency virus transmembrane protein offer a new approach to develop site-specific diagnostic assays that will identify and discriminate between human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2.