seroepidemiological study on human immunodeficiency virus [HIV infection]

ABSTRACT

A total of 1601 serum samples including general population [1050] and high risk individuals for AIDS such as prostitutes [60] passive homosexuals eunuchs [30] blood donors [60] blood transfusion recipients [60] haemophiliacs [20] parenteral drug abusers [30] patients with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy [60] and expatriates/visitors of U.S.A. [200] Europe [30] and Bangkok [1] were tested for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus. Three commercial ELISA kits namely Flow laboratories, Wellcome and Behring were used for HIV antibody detection for each serum sample. All ELISA positive sera by any of the above three kits were confirmed by the immunoblot assay [western blot]. No evidence of HIV infection was found in general population aned high risk individuals for AIDS. Only one case was positive by three ELISA kits and was confirmed by the western blot and that was a case of AIDS imported from Qatar. Out of 1601 serum samples tested Flow lab. Kit gave ten false positive results, Wellcome one and Behring kit gave no false positive Behring kit gave no false positive result. The predictive values of ELISA positive tests by the above three kits for the detection of HIV antibodies were calculated. It was found that the predictive values of positive ELISA tested by Flow Lab Wellcome and Behring kit were 9.09%, 50% and 100% respectively. The best kit in our study was the Behring kit