HIV Antigen/Antibody Screen (Routine), Blood - Saskatoon

Overview

Description

Ordering recommendation

• This is NOT the STAT test; see “HIV Antibody/Antigen Screen, Exposures Only” for Stat testing.

Test ordering requirements

Forms required

• Requisitions must have specific test indicated 

• Miscellaneous Specimen Requisition Form #101878  or SHR Laboratory Medicine Community Laboratory Requisition Form #101064 or Acute Care Phlebotomy Requisition Form #101062

Alias

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus antibody

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

• Serum

Specimen collection container

• Preferred collection container: Gold (gel)

Required volume

• Optimal volume: 4.5 mL full collection tube

• Minimum volume: 0.5 mL whole blood

• When ordered with other tests referred to RRPL, i.e., Prenatal panel, Rubella or Syphilis, one full tube is sufficient for several tests

(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection.)

Rejection criteria

• Specimens received where the proper collection protocols were not followed

• Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria

Testing Information

Relevant clinical history

• All serological results should be interpreted in conjunction with clinical symptoms

Performance

Days/times performed

Availability	Shipped daily Monday to Sunday
Testing site	Referred out by St. Paul’s Hospital Laboratory to Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory

Maximum laboratory time

Results reporting

• Three day turnaround time by testing laboratory

Other information

Reflex testing

• Geenius HIV 1 / 2 confirmatory assay will be performed on all Indeterminate and Positive results.

Additional comments

• Positive results are reported to Medical Health Officer.

Last Updated: November 27, 2025