A retrospective study of the expediency of performing the immunoblot in conducting expert diagnosis at a center for the prevention and control of AIDS

: In view of the fact that Russian immunoblot assay systems yield indefinite results, thus making it necessary to carry out prolonged dispensary observations of patients and their multiple examinations, the scheme of the expert diagnostics of HIV infection on the basis of EIA results is proposed. 51 sera which had yielded indefinite results in the immunoblot assay (antibodies to gagl, envl, poll) were handed over for verification to the Regional Center in 1996-1997. Patients from whom the sera had been taken were placed under dispensary observation in the Center for 6-12 months. After the retrospective analysis of these serum samples with the use of the EIA systems 40 samples proved to be negative and 11 samples gave the positive reaction.