HIV- Card/Strip rapid test is a rapid chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of antibody to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) type-1 and/or type-2 in serum or plasma.

HIV is the etiologic agent of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).  The virion is surrounded by a lipid envelope that is derived from host cell membrane. Several viral glycoproteins are on the envelope.  Each virus contains two copies of positive-sense genomic RNAs. HIV-1 has been isolated from patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex, and from healthy people with a high potential risk for developing AIDS. HIV-2 has been isolated from West African AIDS patients and from seropositive asymptomatic individuals. Both HIV-1 and -2 elicit an immune response. Detection of HIV antibodies in serum or plasma is the most efficient and common way to determine whether an individual has been exposed to HIV and to screen blood and blood products for HIV.  Despite the differences in their biological characteristics, serological activities and genome sequences of HIV-1 and -2 show strong antigenic cross-reactivity.  Most HIV-2 positive sera can be identified by using HIV-1 based serological tests.