Objective: To obtain information on HIV disease progression through western blot (WB) band profile.
Methods: 1466 available serum samples of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases, confirmed by WB from Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province in 2011, were tested, using the BED HIV Incidence Capture Enzyme Immunoassay (BED-CEIA) and Limiting Antigen Avidity Enzyme Immunoassay (LAg-Avidity EIA), respectively. Differences of WB band profiled between recent infections and established infections were then compared.
Results: Infections defined as 'recent' showed lower mean antibody intensities to p17, p24, p31, gp41, p51, p55, p66, gp120 and gp160 in WB when compared to those established infections with statistical difference(P < 0.05).
Conclusion: These WB band profiles which were considered as 'recent' infections would include factors as:lack of antibody reactivity to gp41 antigen, with intensity scores of all bands lower than 13, and those intensity scores of antibody to env protein lower than 5 or to pol protein lower than 4.