Update: serological testing for HIV-1 antibody - United States, 1988 and 1989

Article Abstract:

A summary is presented regarding laboratory testing for HIV-1 antibody (the antibody for HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS) in 1988 and 1989. These results come from the Model Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP) which evaluates laboratories performing this test. In this program, test results receive independent verification at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other laboratories. The report involves 752 laboratories and describes the sensitivity, specificity, and overall analytic performance of methods used to determine the presence of HIV-1 antibody. The sensitivity (percent of correctly identified positive samples) of one approach, EIA (enzyme immunoassay), was 99.7 percent, and its specificity (percent of correctly identified negative samples) was 98.5 percent, with an overall performance of 99.3 percent correct results. Five types of laboratories accounted for approximately 95 percent of the EIAs reported: non-blood bank hospital, which reported the largest number of results; independent; hospital blood bank; nonhospital blood bank; and health department. Western blot (WB) analysis (another type of assay) had a sensitivity of 99.3 percent, a specificity of 91.6 percent, and an overall analytic performance of 97.8 percent. Laboratories using WB analysis included health department; independent; non-blood-bank hospital; and nonhospital blood bank. Changes in performance measurements over time for EIA and WB are presented. EIA is usually the first analysis performed, with WB analyses done when EIA has repeatedly reported a positive result. As such, keeping the analytic quality of the EIA high is an important goal. Constant monitoring of laboratory performance data is essential to assure accurate results from HIV-1 testing. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Methods, Biomedical laboratories

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Multistate Evaluation of Anonymous HIV Testing and Access to MedicalCare

Article Abstract:

Anonymous HIV testing may identify HIV patients much sooner than confidential testing. In a study of 835 newly diagnosed HIV patients, 192 had been tested anonymously and 643 confidentially. Those who were tested anonymously had higher CD+ T cell counts at the time of diagnosis, indicating that they were in the early stages of the disease. They also began receiving treatment sooner than those tested confidentially. This confirms the belief of proponents that anonymous HIV testing increases the number of patients who will be treated identified and treated early.

Diagnosis, HIV infection, HIV infections

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Radiofrequency identification technology in health care

Article Abstract:

The involvement of the radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology in health care for improving patient care and hospital efficiency is discussed.

United States, Government expenditures, Medical Instruments and Supplies, Medical Instruments & Equipment, Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing, Usage, Medical equipment, Government finance, Physiological apparatus, Radiofrequency ablation

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