Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

Which of the following statements about the ELISA test for HIV is true?

1. It is a test to detect viral RNA

2. A positive ELISA screening does not mean the person has HIV infection

3. It is a test to detect viruses

4. It is a diagnostic test for the AIDS virus

The correct answer is: A positive ELISA screening does not mean the person has HIV infection

The statement indicating that a positive ELISA screening does not mean the person has HIV infection is accurate. The ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test is primarily designed to detect antibodies to the HIV virus, not the virus itself. This means that a positive result in the ELISA test indicates that a person has been exposed to HIV and developed antibodies, but it does not confirm an active infection or the presence of the virus. It is important to understand that false positives can occur due to various reasons, such as cross-reactivity with other infections. Therefore, a positive ELISA result typically requires confirmation with a more specific test, such as a western blot or an HIV RNA test, to accurately diagnose an HIV infection. This recognizes the need for follow-up testing to conclusively determine whether an individual is indeed infected with the virus. In contrast, the other statements regarding the test are either incorrect or misleading in this context. The ELISA test does not primarily detect viral RNA, as that would typically involve a different type of test, such as a PCR test. While the ELISA can be part of diagnostic testing related to HIV infection, it is not synonymous with directly diagnosing AIDS, which is a clinical diagnosis defined by specific