Method of detecting antibodies and antibody-hiv virion complexes

A method of identifying a subject who is positive for HIV RNA but negative for anti-HIV antibodies comprising:

• i) obtaining a biological sample from said subject,
• ii) contacting said sample with anti-IgM;
• anti-IgG, anti-IgA or anti-C3D antibodies bound to a solid support under conditions such that antibody-HIV virion complexes present in said sample can bind to said antibodies,
• iii) washing said solid support under conditions such that uncomplexed HIV virion is removed,
• iv) treating said solid support under conditions such that viral RNA from antibody-HIV virion complexes bound to said solid support can be measured, and
• v) assaying for viral RNA resulting from step (iv),
• wherein the presence of said viral RNA indicates said subject is positive for HIV RNA but negative for anti-HIV antibodies.