Detection of human immunodeficiency virus using oral mucosal transudate by rapid test

CONTEXT: On the cusp of the fourth decade of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic, the world has turned the corner - it has halted and began to reverse the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Oral fluid-based Rapid tests have potential advantages over blood-based tests hence the time is ripe for their use to scale up HIV screening and testing programmes. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To detect HIV using oral mucosal transudate (OMT) and to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the HIV Rapid test using OMT. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: OraQuick Rapid HIV-1/2 Diagnostic test was evaluated in sera and oral fluids from 83 subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group comprised of 50 HIV seropositive subjects and the control group comprised of 33 seronegative subjects. Serum samples were collected using the standard phlebotomy technique and oral samples were collected using OraQuick Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody test OMT collecting device. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The statistical analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences version 16.0, SPSS Inc., 233 South Wacker Drive, 11(th) Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-6412. The Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value were used. RESULTS: All the subjects who tested either positive/reactive or negative/non-reactive with Western blot/enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) produced similar results with Rapid test using OMT in study, our study also revealed that the subjects whether on anti-retroviral therapy or not had 100% sensitivity and specificity with the Rapid test using OMT. CONCLUSIONS: The Rapid test using OMT is highly accurate as the diagnostic efficacy in our study was 100% for HIV antibody detection and produced similar results to that of conventional Western blot/ELISA tests.