Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Association of Medical Microbiology ISSN: 0255-0857 EISSN: 1998-3646 Vol. 29, Num. 2, 2011, pp. 194-195

Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol. 29, No. 2, April-June, 2011, pp. 194-195

Correspondence

A pilot cross-sectional study to determine the utility of an oral HIV1/2 point of care test on sputum for screening TB/HIV co-infection in Central India

P Desikan¹, S De², NP Pai², N Panwalkar³, M Verma³, A Jain¹

¹ Department of Pathology, Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre, Bhopal, India
² Department of Pulmonary Medicine, McGill University, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montreal, QC, Canada
³ Department of Microbiology, Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre, Bhopal, India

Correspondence Address:P Desikan Department of Pathology, Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre, Bhopal India prabhadesikan@yahoo.com

Date of Submission: 10-Dec-2010
Date of Acceptance: 17-Dec-2010

Code Number: mb11048

PMID: 21654123

DOI: 10.4103/0255-0857.81781

Dear Editor,

The OraQuick^® HIV-1/2 assay (OraSure Technologies, Inc., Bethlehem, PA, USA) is a noninvasive, point-of-care, simple, convenient, visually read qualitative immunochromatographic test for the detection of antibodies to HIV-1 and -2 in gingival secretions and blood. Since the OraQuick assay on sputum samples has not been extensively evaluated in India, we attempted to examine the diagnostic performance and client preference for OraQuick assay on sputum for screening TB/HIV co-infected populations in Central India.

Seventy-one adult participants suspected to be co-infected with HIV/TB were enrolled in the study. Sputum specimens, either smear positive or culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, were included. Sputum samples from patients who were culture positive were collected at follow-up visits for HIV testing with OraQuick HIV-1/2 assay. The participants were provided pre-test and post-test counselling as per the guidelines of the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), India. HIV antibody testing was conducted on sputum specimens using OraQuick HIV-1/2 assay, followed by confirmatory testing by dual ELISAs. The OraQuick HIV-1/2 assay in sputum specimens was found to have 100% sensitivity (2/2) and 100% specificity (69/69) [Table - 1]. The OraQuick HIV-1/2 assay on sputum was preferred by 100% of the participants over ELISA.

Our hospital-based pilot study indicated a good diagnostic accuracy of the Oraquick test on sputum. This testing method may therefore be useful for conducting HIV surveillance in possible co-infected TB patients on sputum specimens collected as a part of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program. However, previous studies have reported varying levels of sensitivity and specificity. ^[1],[2] Hence, extensive community-based estimates are urgently needed to determine the performance of OraQuick for screening HIV infection in TB patients, particularly in view of the recent report of false-positive results occurring in a performance study of OraQuick oral-fluid rapid HIV tests in Minnesota. ^[3]

References

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