Generation serological assay for monitoring HIV exposure

Disclosed is a highly sensitive anti-HIV antibody detection assay. The assay detects the presence of anti-HIV antibodies through the use of a non-denatured HIV antigenic determinant which immunoreactivity binds anti-HIV antibodies in a biological sample. The non-denatured HIV antigenic determinant has provided a means for detecting anti-HIV antibodies in serum samples testing seronegative for the presence of HIV antibodies directed against denatured HIV antigens p17, p19, p24, p27, p39, gp41, p55, gp120 and gp160. The antigenic determinant may take the form of a cross-immunoreactive live HIV-infected cell line or a biologically engineered peptide possessing conserved or shared HIV surface antigenic determinants. Methods of preparing HIV target antigens are also disclosed, as well as methods for determining the presence of anti-HIV antibodies through the use of these non-denatured HIV target antigens. A test kit for detecting anti-HIV antibodies is also disclosed.