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With MacSleuth™ software students can really understand how the new diagnostic tests,that are designed to detect whether an HIV infection is present, really work. One of these test is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) which is used as a screening test to determine if a blood serum sample is positive for HIV antibodies. The graphic modified with permission from the Edvotek® product catalog shows how the test works.
The presence of HIV antibodies is confirmed by the Western Blot Test. This test is highly specific for certain discrete protein building blocks of the AIDS virus. These proteins appear only in HIV. The Western Blot graphic teaches the student how reactions with these HIV building block proteins occur and what they look like in this sensitive test for specific antibodies. Students can recognize these proteins after they learn about the replication cycle of the Human Immunodeficiency virus.
Finally students can enrich their study by learning where future directions in AIDS research are leading and how they may keep abreast of this hot biotechnological field.
Heather
D. Mayor D.Sc., Ph.D.
Alan
L. Gillen Ed.D.
