Revising expectations from rapid HIV tests in the emergency department.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Expanded HIV screening efforts in the United States have increased the use of rapid HIV tests in emergency departments. The reported sensitivity and specificity of rapid HIV tests exceed 99%.

Objective

To assess whether a reactive rapid oral HIV test result correctly identifies adults with HIV infection in the emergency department.

Design

Diagnostic test performance assessment within the framework of a randomized, clinical trial.

Setting

Brigham and Women's Hospital emergency department (Boston, Massachusetts) from 7 February to 1 October 2007.

Patients

849 adults with valid rapid oral HIV test results.

Intervention

Rapid HIV testing with the OraQuick ADVANCE Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test (OraSure Technologies, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania). P

SUBMITTER: Walensky RP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3260470 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature