HTLV-I/II antibodies - serum
Last updated: Tuesday, 23, March, 2004
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| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | 5-10 mL blood in plain tube. |
| Method | EIA. |
| Application | Screening of blood and tissue donors. Investigation of adult T cell leukaemia, suspected HTLV-I associated myelopathy/ tropical spastic paraparesis. |
| Interpretation | Many serologic assays do not distinguish between HTLV-I and HTLV-II. Repeatedly reactive samples from patients with possible clinical disease require comfirmation with a recombinant western blot assay to distinguish HTLV-I from HTLV-II. The distinction is important because HTLV-II is less likely to be associated with disease than HTLV-I. PCR may also be used to distinguish between HTLV-I and HTLV-II. |
| Reference | Manns E et al. Lancet 1999; 353: 1951-1958. |