Comparative evaluation of four different HIV antibodies detection techniques in aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

After the first case of human immunodeficiency virus infection [HIV] was officially reported in Nigeria in 1986, several screening centres were set up and several HIV screening Kits were also available in Nigerian market. In our centre, five different types of HIV screening Kits were used between 1997 and 2000. These Kits are Determine[R], Insta[R], Capillus[R], Genie II[R] and Immunocomb II[R] techniques. The latter was always used as second technique before confirthation. The need to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of these Kits became necessary due to discrepancies in the result recorded. Out of 1286 tests performed using Determine[R] Kit 33 [16.8%] false positive results were observed. Similarly, 2 [2.47%] false positive results were observed out of 732 tests using Insta[R]. No false positive results were observed for Capillus[R] and Genie II[R], out of 1012 and 370 tests, respectively, performed using these Kits. It is suggested that a lot of field trials be done in Africa before new Kits are allowed for use