Question

ELISA helps to test the presence of HIV in the body by recognising the _______ in the body fluids.

• A. infected helper T cells
• B. antibodies
• C. viral RNA
  
• D. viral DNA
  

Answer 1

The correct option is B antibodies

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the causative agent of AIDS, the disease is characterised by a weakened immune system which makes the patient vulnerable to opportunistic microbes and even minor infections can prove to be fatal.

The presence of HIV in the body can be tested with the help of Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). This technique is based on the principle of antigen-antibody reaction and detects the presence of specific antibodies, directed against the virus, in our body fluids but can not detect infected helper T cells or the viral RNA and DNA

The body starts producing antibodies against HIV within 3-12 weeks which is why antibodies against HIV can be detected using ELISA as early as 3 weeks into the infection. Body fluids such as blood, saliva or urine are used as samples for the test as these would contain the antibodies.