Stability of plasma samples positive for anti-HIV antibodies stored over a decade

In order to ensure the quality of diagnostic kits for safeguarding public health in the country the evaluation of immunodiagnostic kits is done with in-house reference plasma panels. In this context, the maintenance of plasma samples stored frozen is extremely important. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the stability of plasma samples positive for anti-HIV antibodies stored over a decade. In this study, the 104 stored anti-HIV antibody positive samples were tested by ELISA methodology and the E-ratios were compared with the earlier recorded E-Ratios to check if there was any significant decrease in the values. The results were statistically analysed by paired t-test methodology and no significant difference was found in the E-ratios. Hence, the anti- HIV positive plasma samples stored at -200C were stable for as long as twelve years by ELISA methodology.