A Review of the Impact of Cost and Quality of HIV Kits on HIV Testing in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

ABSTRACT

Background: When HIV antibodies testing was introduced in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; Kano a couple of years ago; Double ELISA was used to test blood samples before a particular specimen was diagnosed as reactive or non-reactive. A time came when immunoconfirmatory test was introduced into HIV antibodies testing for confirmations of the presence of HIV. Objectives: This present retospective study is to review the impact of cost and quality of HIV reagent kits in the two periods A and B on the patients and confidence on the health care provider. Methods: We collated and compared laboratory records for both periods of HIV antibodies testing at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano consisting of period A from November 1997 to May 1998 (7 months) and period B from November 1998 to May 1999 (7months). In period A; double ELISA was used (Genie II and Immunocomb Bispot) while in period B; Immunocomb Bispot and Immunoconfirm II were used Results: The results show that the cost per test increased from two hundred and fifty Naira($2) to five hundred Naira($4). There was a reduction on the number of patients from 289 to 258 within the two periods. But the prevalence of reactive HIV antibodies decreased from 43.6to 36.8. Conclusion: The period when Immunoconfirmatory technique was introduced brought assurance; reliability and confidence to HIV diagnosis test in the centre