HIV 1 & 2, Ab Western Blot Test

A series of blood screenings are used to determine if a patient is HIV positive. AIDS is caused due to two known types of HIV, HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1, is encountered in patients having AIDS. The virus is transmitted through sexual exposure, through infected blood products or from an infected mother to her infant. HIV-2, is an infection confined to West Africa, and has been encountered in individuals having intercourse with regional population. The western blot test checks for HIV antibodies in the blood. The western blot, is an analytical procedure to determine the specific proteins in a sample tissue extract. The test is a combination of two steps. An electrophoresis step and a step that transfers blots, the separated proteins onto a membrane.

A small volume of lysate is required to perform a protein quantification assay so keep the requisites ready. Reduction and denaturing the samples is recommended unless the online antibody datasheet indicates for a reversal in the procedure. Boiling cell lysates at 100°C for 5 min in a sample buffer is advised. Lysates are preserved at -20°C.

The western blot test is widely prevalent and is used to diagnose some critical medical illness.
HIV-AIDS

A human serum sample is checked for HIV antibodies. The procedure for which is cited above.
HEPATITIS

The test also confirms the Hepatitis B infection and Herpes infection (HSV-2)

FELINE IMMUNO

FIV status in cats is also determined through western blotting procedures

LYME DISEASE

The test is initialized by separating the macromolecules in a sample using gel electrophoresis. Eventually, the separated molecules are transferred / blotted onto a second layer, The membrane of the layer conceived is then occluded to prevent any nonspecific binding of antibodies to the surface of the membrane. The protein in transit is then analyzed through a combination of antibodies One of the antibodies which is also the primary antibody specific to the protein of interest) and the second antibody specific to the host species of the primary antibody. The secondary antibody is generally combined with an enzyme, which then combined with an appropriate substrate, will produce a detectable signal. Chromogenic substrates usually produce a precipitate on the membrane resulting in varied color changes easily detectable by the human eye.