Biorex Diagnostics have developed HIV 1/2 Rapid Cassette devices and rapid test strips intended for the qualitative detection of antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (1 & 2) in whole blood serum or plasma.

HIV is the etiologic agent of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The virion is surrounded by a lipid envelope that is derived from the host cell membrane. Several viral glycoproteins are on the envelope. Each virus contains two copies of positive-sense genomic RNAs. HIV-1 has been isolated from patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex, and from healthy people with a high potential risk for developing AIDS.1 HIV-2 has been isolated from West African AIDS patients and from seropositive asymptomatic individuals. Both HIV-1 and HIV-2 elicit an immune response.