Point-Of-Care p24 Infant Testing for HIV May Increase Patient Identification despite Low Sensitivity.

ABSTRACT: The long delay in returning test results during early infant diagnosis of HIV (EID) often causes loss-to-follow-up prior to antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation in resource-limited settings. A point-of-care (POC) test may help overcome these challenges. We evaluated the performance of the LYNX p24 Antigen POC test in Mozambique. 879 HIV-exposed infants under 18 months of age were enrolled consecutively at three primary healthcare clinics (PHC). Lancet heel-drawn blood was tested on-site by nurses using a prototype POC test for HIV Gag p24 antigen detection. Results of POC testing were compared to laboratory-based nucleic acid testing on dried blood spots. A comparison of the effect of sensitivity and timely test results return on successful diagnosis by POC and laboratory-based platfo

SUBMITTER: Meggi B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5218410 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature