METHOD OF PRESERVING A BODY FLUID SAMPLE, PRIOR TO ASSAY FOR HIV (AIDS) INFECTION

摘要

A method of detecting HIV infection in a patient, which comprises taking a sample of body fluid from a patient and drying said sample on an absorbent substrate. The sample may then be optionally eluated and the eluate or the dried sample tested for the presence of antibodies to HIV or to HIV antigens or RNA, by standard assays. The method of the invention permits anonymity by use of automated blood collection methods and coded absorbent substrates whereby the patient keeps a coded receipt or tear-off portion of the substrate and with that receipt or portion is able to obtain results of the test. The method of the invention enables antibody, antigen and RNA tests to be performed on the same sample, thus providing a means for a number of different tests to be carried out on a single stabilised, dried and inactivated sample.