Evaluation Of HIV Testing Methods And Development Of HIV Testing Algorithms In Lagos, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The absence of regulatory control of HIV test kits in use, non-availability of HIV testing algorithm and absence of regular and constant evaluation programme for HIV testing kits stimulated the authors' curiosity to carry out both operational and experimental studies on the commercially available HIV test devices circulating in the Nigerian market. A scientific approach to address the setbacks in HIV testing methods contending with HIV serodiagnosis and surveillance, as well as determination of blood's HIV status for blood transfusion in Nigeria, was formulated in this study. The study is focused on operational evaluation of commercially available HIV test kits, the development and evaluation of two serial HIV testing serologic algorithms as well as the detection and use of HIV complement fixing (CF) antibody titres as a prognostic marker for HIV/AIDS. The sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) of 14 HIV test kits involving 5 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and 9 simple-rapid (S/R) assay types were evaluated in two phases of this study. The case of performance and suitability for use were also assessed in the two phases.