Pediatric HIV: Australian perspective

Article Abstract:

There have been 95 reported cases of HIV infection among children under 13 years of age in Australia. While most of these cases are due to contaminated blood or blood products used between 1980 and 1984, mother-to-infant transmission will be the most important cause in the future. Based on limited information, the rate of mother-to-infant transmission among HIV-infected women in Australia is estimated at 32%. The transmission rate is about 50% in babies who are breast-fed compared with 17% in babies who are bottle-fed. HIV infection is difficult to diagnose in infants using standard HIV testing techniques. The anti-HIV drug zidovudine appears to be well-tolerated in children and useful in promoting weight gain. Little is known about the effectiveness of the drug didanosine in children, but it appears to be less toxic than zidovudine. Families with HIV-infected children usually have to cope with HIV-infection in one or both parents. Camps that bring affected families together may be an important source of psychosocial support.

Care and treatment, HIV (Viruses), HIV, Disease transmission, AIDS (Disease) in children, Pediatric AIDS (Disease)

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HIV antibody testing in Australia

Article Abstract:

HIV testing is highly accurate in Australia because quality assurance and control measures have been an integral part of the process since its inception. Errors can result from testing failures as well as faulty laboratory procedures, clerical management and handling of the samples. Quality assurance is the process of ensuring the correct testing result is delivered to the person who gave the sample. Quality control is the process of ensuring the test is correctly and consistently working. Australian HIV testing laboratories are in a three-tiered system: samples are screened locally, reactive samples are referred to state laboratories and the national laboratory organizes overall quality control and acts as the final center for referrals. All HIV testing sites must be accredited and are continually submitting data on the specificity and sensitivity of the tests. In addition to assuring test accuracy, this collaborative monitoring system provides reliable data to various governmental and public health agencies.

Standards, Quality management, Medical equipment and supplies industry, Medical equipment industry, HIV testing, HIV tests

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Multisite evaluation of four anti-HIV-1/HIV-2 enzyme immunoassays

Article Abstract:

Four anti-HIV-1/HIV-2 enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) appear to be similarly effective in diagnosing HIV infection in the Australian population. Four different EIAs were evaluated at 12 Australian Public Health Laboratories and seven Australian Red Cross Blood Transfusion centers. The four tests were manufactured by Organon Teknika, Abbott, Diagnostics Pasteur and Genetic Systems. The specificity of the tests, or the ability of the test to correctly indicate that HIV infection is present and not to indicate it as present when it is not, were similar. The Organon Teknika test had a specificity of 99.85%; the Abbott test a specificity of 99.92%; the Diagnostics Pasteur test a specificity of 99.46%; and the Genetic Systems test a specificity of 99.67%. Sensitivity, or the likelihood that the disease is present when the test is positive, was highest for the Abbott test.

Evaluation, Diagnosis, HIV infection, HIV infections, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

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