HIV serology using piezoelectric immunosensors

An immunosensing system for the detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) specific antibodies comprising a piezoelectric immunosensor integrated in a flow through system is presented. The fundamental sensor effect is based on the linear dependence of the resonance frequency of an oscillating quartz crystal upon the mass accumulation on the surface during the measurement. An immunospecific detector was realized by immobilizing synthetic peptides or recombinant proteins with major diagnostic epitopes of HIV on the surface of the transducer. With this analytical system antibodies specific against the HIV have been detected in human serum samples within a few minutes and with a selectivity and sensitivity comparable to a licensed HIV ELISA.