Breast Milk Donor Panel Description
The Breast milk donor’s basic profile is used to screen for STDs prior to donating to protect the child receiving donor milk. It is significant to recognize that certain potentially deadly diseases, such as HIV, can be passed on through breast donor milk.
The profiler includes:
· HIV Screen Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 & 2 Antibodies, (Western Blot Confirmation on Positives)
· Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus I & II, Antibodies
· Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
· Hepatitis C Virus Antibody
· Syphilis Test (RPR)
HIV Screen Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 & 2 Antibodies
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV 1/O/2), the etiologic agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is a cytopathic retrovirus. This test uses recombinant antigen sources and detects antibodies by specific immune binding and subsequent chemiluminescent reaction (ICMA technology). Sensitivity and specificity of this assay are 100% and 99.9%, respectively. Sera which are repeatedly reactive in two out of three tests are subject to confirmatory HIV-1 testing by the Western blot method. Some individuals may be initially reactive by the preliminary test and negative or indeterminate by Western blot. This may be caused by other viral antibodies or autoantibodies which cross react with the viral antigens, although this is extremely rare.
Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus I & II
The Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus I & II tests are used for qualitative detection of antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus, types 1 and/or 2 (HTLV-1/HTLV-2).
HTLV-1, a human type C retrovirus, is associated with adult T-cell leukemia, tropical spastic paraparesis, and other demyelinating and neoplastic conditions. More recently, HTLV-1 infection has been shown to be associated with T- and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemias (CLL), multiple myeloma, some cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, polymyositis, arthritis, Kaposi sarcoma, uveitis, strongyloidiasis, and mycosis fungoides. Type 1 HTLV is irregularly distributed throughout the world, as opposed to type II virus, which is a new world virus, more common among Americans in North, Central, and South America. HTLV-2 was first isolated from a patient with T-lymphocytic hairy cell leukemia but has not been unequivocally proven to be a pathogen. Recent findings suggest that HTLV-2 may be associated with a number of other leukemias and lymphomas. A high rate of HTLV-2 seropositives has been observed among intravenous drug users. Both HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 are tropic for CD4 lymphocytes and can be transmitted by sexual contact, I.V. drug use, blood products, transplacentally, and through breast milk.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
For donors (HBsAg positive individuals are rejected). Hepatitis B surface antigen is the earliest indicator of the presence of acute infection. It is also indicative of chronic infection. The test is useful in the differential diagnosis of hepatitis.
Hepatitis C Virus Antibody
The Hepatitis C virus antibody test is used to detect and diagnose an infection and/or to monitor the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Tests are used to detect the condition if a person: has been exposed to someone with HCV.
•Participates in high risk behaviors such as injecting street drugs
•Has abnormal liver function tests
•Has symptoms associated with liver disease, such as jaundice, dark urine, nausea, or unexpected weight gain or loss
Syphilis Test (RPR)
Syphilis test detects antibodies of the bacteria that cause syphilis (Treponema pallidum) in blood, body fluid, or tissue. The tests are used to screen for or to confirm a syphilis infection.
Normal: No antibodies to syphilis are present. This is called a nonreactive or negative result.
Abnormal: Antibodies to syphilis bacteria are present. This is called a reactive or positive test.
A result that is not clearly normal or abnormal is called inconclusive or equivocal.