BACKGROUND: Rapid HIV antibody tests are commonly used for HIV diagnosis in the developing world. These tests are generally reported as sensitive, despite paucity of evaluations in paediatric populations. OBJECTIVES: We tested specimens of paediatric patients, known to be HIV-infected, to detect any false negative tests and determine associations with such an outcome. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred and fifty-three specimens, from 109 patients, recorded to be HIV-infected by standard testing, were tested on the Capillustrade mark HIV-1/HIV-2 test (Trinity Biotech, Ireland); 150 specimens also had sufficient volume to be tested on Abbott Determinetrade mark HIV1/2 assay (Abbott GmbH, Wiesbaden, Germany). Treatment information, CD4 counts and HIV-1 viral load measurements were obtained from patient files and laboratory databases. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 153 specimens tested negative on the Capillus (sensitivity 86.3%). False negative results by Capillus were associated with antiretroviral treatment (ART) (p=0.0018) and lower HIV-1 viral load (p=0.013). Serial dilutions of some of the specimens indicated that both rapid tests, and the Capillus in particular, became negative at lower dilutions than an HIV enzyme immunoassay (EIA). CONCLUSIONS: The Capillus test had an unexpectedly low sensitivity in a South African population of HIV-infected children that had access to antiretroviral treatment, posing a risk of false negative HIV testing.
BACKGROUND: Rapid HIV antibody tests are commonly used for HIV diagnosis in the developing world. These tests are generally reported as sensitive, despite paucity of evaluations in paediatric populations. OBJECTIVES: We tested specimens of paediatric patients, known to be HIV-infected, to detect any false negative tests and determine associations with such an outcome. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred and fifty-three specimens, from 109 patients, recorded to be HIV-infected by standard testing, were tested on the Capillustrade mark HIV-1/HIV-2 test (Trinity Biotech, Ireland); 150 specimens also had sufficient volume to be tested on Abbott Determinetrade mark HIV1/2 assay (Abbott GmbH, Wiesbaden, Germany). Treatment information, CD4 counts and HIV-1 viral load measurements were obtained from patient files and laboratory databases. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 153 specimens tested negative on the Capillus (sensitivity 86.3%). False negative results by Capillus were associated with antiretroviral treatment (ART) (p=0.0018) and lower HIV-1 viral load (p=0.013). Serial dilutions of some of the specimens indicated that both rapid tests, and the Capillus in particular, became negative at lower dilutions than an HIV enzyme immunoassay (EIA). CONCLUSIONS: The Capillus test had an unexpectedly low sensitivity in a South African population of HIV-infectedchildren that had access to antiretroviral treatment, posing a risk of false negative HIV testing.
Authors: Jessica M Fogel; Estelle Piwowar-Manning; Kelsey Donohue; Vanessa Cummings; Mark A Marzinke; William Clarke; Autumn Breaud; Agnès Fiamma; Deborah Donnell; Michal Kulich; Jessie K K Mbwambo; Linda Richter; Glenda Gray; Michael Sweat; Thomas J Coates; Susan H Eshleman Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2015-08-01 Impact factor: 3.731
Authors: I V Bassett; S Chetty; J Giddy; S Reddy; K Bishop; Z Lu; E Losina; K A Freedberg; R P Walensky Journal: HIV Med Date: 2011-01 Impact factor: 3.180
Authors: Ann M Buchanan; Behzad Nadjm; Ben Amos; George Mtove; David Sifuna; Coleen K Cunningham; John A Crump; Hugh Reyburn Journal: J Clin Virol Date: 2012-08-24 Impact factor: 3.168
Authors: Dean B Everett; Kathy Baisley; John Changalucha; Andrew Vallely; Deborah Watson-Jones; Claire Cook; Louise Knight; David A Ross; Kokugonza Mugeye; Sheena McCormack; Charles J Lacey; Ute Jentsch; Richard J Hayes Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2009-02-25 Impact factor: 5.948