BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection via the transfusion of blood tested by inappropriately stored or expired rapid antibody assays in Zambia. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Surgical patients (n = 370) were tested with antibody assays (HIV-spot and HIV 1+2) that had expired 3 to 6 months previously. Blood donors (n = 211) were tested by inappropriately stored but non-expired HIV-spot assay. Serum samples from both groups were retested with enzyme immunoassays, and the seropositivity of samples was confirmed by immunoblotting. RESULTS: Seroprevalence in surgical patients and blood donors was 19.8 and 11.6 percent, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of HIV-spot (expired) were 88.2 and 98.1 percent; those of HIV 1+2 (expired) were 82.1 and 94.7 percent; and those of HIV-spot (non-expired) were 91.7 and 98.8 percent, respectively. The risk of HIV infection via the transfusion of blood tested by HIV-spot (expired), HIV-spot (nonexpired), or HIV 1+2 (expired) was calculated to be 1.4, 1.0, and 3.2 percent, respectively. CONCLUSION: Manufacturers of the HIV-spot and HIV 1+2 assays claim sensitivity and specificity of 98.8 and 100 percent and 100 and 99.5 percent, respectively. In this study, sensitivity and specificity were 11 to 18 percent lower. Moreover, in-date reagents also performed less well than the manufacturers claimed, but the worst results were with expired or improperly stored reagents. According to the manufacturers of HIV-spot and HIV 1+2, the risk of HIV infection would be 0.2 and 0 percent, respectively. However, the risk of contracting HIV through transfusion is at least six times higher than expected.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection via the transfusion of blood tested by inappropriately stored or expired rapid antibody assays in Zambia. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Surgical patients (n = 370) were tested with antibody assays (HIV-spot and HIV 1+2) that had expired 3 to 6 months previously. Blood donors (n = 211) were tested by inappropriately stored but non-expired HIV-spot assay. Serum samples from both groups were retested with enzyme immunoassays, and the seropositivity of samples was confirmed by immunoblotting. RESULTS: Seroprevalence in surgical patients and blood donors was 19.8 and 11.6 percent, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of HIV-spot (expired) were 88.2 and 98.1 percent; those of HIV 1+2 (expired) were 82.1 and 94.7 percent; and those of HIV-spot (non-expired) were 91.7 and 98.8 percent, respectively. The risk of HIV infection via the transfusion of blood tested by HIV-spot (expired), HIV-spot (nonexpired), or HIV 1+2 (expired) was calculated to be 1.4, 1.0, and 3.2 percent, respectively. CONCLUSION: Manufacturers of the HIV-spot and HIV 1+2 assays claim sensitivity and specificity of 98.8 and 100 percent and 100 and 99.5 percent, respectively. In this study, sensitivity and specificity were 11 to 18 percent lower. Moreover, in-date reagents also performed less well than the manufacturers claimed, but the worst results were with expired or improperly stored reagents. According to the manufacturers of HIV-spot and HIV 1+2, the risk of HIV infection would be 0.2 and 0 percent, respectively. However, the risk of contracting HIV through transfusion is at least six times higher than expected.
Entities:
Keywords:
Africa; Africa South Of The Sahara; Biology; Blood Supply; Blood Transfusion; Delivery Of Health Care; Developing Countries; Diseases; Eastern Africa; English Speaking Africa; Equipment And Supplies; Examinations And Diagnoses; Health; Health Facilities; Hiv Infections; Hiv Serodiagnosis; Hospitals; Laboratory Examinations And Diagnoses; Prospective Studies; Research Methodology; Research Report; Risk Factors; Studies; Treatment; Viral Diseases; Zambia
Authors: J P Pitman; R Wilkinson; S V Basavaraju; B von Finckenstein; C Smit Sibinga; A A Marfin; M J Postma; M Mataranyika; J Tobias; D W Lowrance Journal: ISBT Sci Ser Date: 2014-12-01
Authors: Benjamin P L Meza; Britta Lohrke; Robert Wilkinson; John P Pitman; Ray W Shiraishi; Naomi Bock; David W Lowrance; Matthew J Kuehnert; Mary Mataranyika; Sridhar V Basavaraju Journal: Blood Transfus Date: 2013-11-15 Impact factor: 3.443