A clinician wants to screen a patient for a suspected HIV infection even though the patient shows no clinical symptoms. The clinician orders a diagnostic test based on the principle of detecting antibodies synthesised by the host against the pathogen. Identify the correct test and its diagnostic category.

Step-by-step solution

Early diagnosis of a disease is crucial for effective treatment. Conventional methods like serum and urine analysis cannot detect diseases early, as they usually require a high concentration of the pathogen or the onset of symptoms. Molecular diagnostic techniques such as Recombinant DNA technology, PCR, and ELISA serve the purpose of early diagnosis. ELISA is based on the principle of antigen-antibody interaction. Infection by a pathogen can be detected by the presence of antigens or by detecting the antibodies sy