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Potential for false positive HIV test results with the serial rapid HIV testing algorithm

Authors :
Moses R. Kamya
Rhoda K. Wanyenze
Thomas J. Coates
Steven Baveewo
Harriet Mayanja-Kizza
David R. Bangsberg
Judith A. Hahn
Robin Fatch
Source :
BMC Research Notes, Vol 5, Iss 1, p 154 (2012), Baveewo, Steven; Kamya, Moses R; Mayanja-Kizza, Harriet; Fatch, Robin; Bangsberg, David R; Coates, Thomas; et al.(2012). Potential for false positive HIV test results with the serial rapid HIV testing algorithm. BMC Research Notes, 5(1), 154. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-5-154. Retrieved from: http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/9fq758b8, BMC Research Notes
Publisher :
Springer Nature

Abstract

Background Rapid HIV tests provide same-day results and are widely used in HIV testing programs in areas with limited personnel and laboratory infrastructure. The Uganda Ministry of Health currently recommends the serial rapid testing algorithm with Determine, STAT-PAK, and Uni-Gold for diagnosis of HIV infection. Using this algorithm, individuals who test positive on Determine, negative to STAT-PAK and positive to Uni-Gold are reported as HIV positive. We conducted further testing on this subgroup of samples using qualitative DNA PCR to assess the potential for false positive tests in this situation. Results Of the 3388 individuals who were tested, 984 were HIV positive on two consecutive tests, and 29 were considered positive by a tiebreaker (positive on Determine, negative on STAT-PAK, and positive on Uni-Gold). However, when the 29 samples were further tested using qualitative DNA PCR, 14 (48.2%) were HIV negative. Conclusion Although this study was not primarily designed to assess the validity of rapid HIV tests and thus only a subset of the samples were retested, the findings show a potential for false positive HIV results in the subset of individuals who test positive when a tiebreaker test is used in serial testing. These findings highlight a need for confirmatory testing for this category of individuals.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
17560500
Volume :
5
Issue :
1
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
BMC Research Notes
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....cf57024ec0e6283d66f7379a49134470
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-5-154