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FDA approves new HIV screening test

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A new test is available to screen blood and organ donors for HIV and is designed to detect antibodies to HIV type 1 and type 2.

The screening test — Abbott Prism HIV O Plus from Abbott Laboratories — is the second licensed to recognized HIV type 1 group O and also detects HIV type 1 group M and HIV type 2. Health care providers can use the assay to screen donated blood or blood specimens for these specific HIV groups and subgroups.

Clinicians may also use the assay to screen specimens from organ donors — both specimens obtained while the donor’s heart was still beating and also those obtained from cadavers — but positive results require confirmation with supplemental tests.

HIV type 1 group M is the most common subgroup of HIV in the United States, while group O is primarily found in Cameroon and other areas of West Africa. Although HIV type 2 is found mostly in West Africa, health care providers have detected both HIV types 1 and 2 in United States and Europe.