p24 antigen


p24 antigen

AIDS The 24 kD core antigen of HIV-1, which is linked to clinical AIDS; p24 is the earliest marker of HIV-1 infection, and detectable days to wks before seroconversion to anti-HIV-1 antibody production, detected by ELISA. See CD4:CD8 ratio, HIV, HIV RNA, Reverse transcriptase, Western blot.

p24 antigen

The core protein of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The presence of p24 antigen in the blood is a marker of uncontrolled HIV replication. p24 antigenemia is encountered in the acute retroviral syndrome before host immune response and in advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome when the immune system has been destroyed. When p24 antigen is detected in the blood, the HIV viral load is high and the person is highly infectious. See also: antigen