ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION Performance evaluation of a new fourth-generation HIV combination antigen–antibody assay

The Author(s) 2012. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract Education and diagnostic tests capable of early detection represent our most effective means of preventing transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The importance of early detection is underlined by studies demonstrating increased life expectancy following early initiation of antiviral treatment. The Elecsys HIV combi PT assay is a fourth-generation antigen–antibody combi-nation assay developed to allow earlier detection of sero-conversion, and to have increased sensitivity and improved specificity. We aimed to determine how early the assay could detect infection compared with existing assays; whether all HIV variants could be detected; and the assay’s specificity using samples from blood donors, routine specimens, and patients with potential cross-reactin