All of the following are used in diagnosis of HIV in a 2 month old child except:: (A) HIV ELISA, (B) p24 antigen assay, (C) DNA PCR, (D) Viral culture
Answer is A. Ans. A. HIV ELISAHIV ELISA cannot be used in diagnosis of HIV in a child up to 18 months of age.* This is because all neonates born to HIV infected mothers will have IgG antibody in their blood regardless of their infection status.* So up until 18 months of age they will continue to test positive. Hence HIV ELISA should not be used.