ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTC) provide counselling and blood testing facilities for HIV diagnosis. Oral fluid tests provide an alternative for people who do not want blood to be drawn. Also, it avoids the risk of occupational exposure. The goal of this study was to evaluate the utility of Calypte AWARE HIV-1/2 OMT antibody test as a screening test in an Indian setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out after ethics committee approval in 250 adult ICTC clients. Blood was collected and tested from these clients for HIV diagnosis as per routine policy and the results were considered as the gold standard. Also, after another written informed consent, oral fluid was collected from the clients and tested for the presence of HIV antibodies. Twenty five clients who had and 25 clients who had not completed their secondary school education (Group A and Group B, respectively) were also asked to perform and interpret the test on their own and their findings and experiences were noted. RESULT: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the oral fluid antibody test were 100%, 98.51%, 94.11% and 100%, respectively. Seventy six percent of clients preferred oral fluid testing. Group B found it difficult to perform the test as compared to Group A and this difference was statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Oral fluid testing can be used as a screening test for HIV diagnosis; however, confirmation of reactive results by blood-based tests is a must.
Subject(s)
HIV Antibodies/blood , HIV Infections/diagnosis , HIV-1/immunology , HIV-2/immunology , Mass Screening/methods , Saliva/immunology , AIDS Serodiagnosis/methods , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , HIV Antibodies/analysis , HIV Infections/immunology , HIV Infections/prevention & control , HIV Infections/virology , Humans , India , Male , Predictive Value of Tests , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
A group of multiemployer trust funds in Michigan has formed a coalition that eventually will offer its members an integrated managed health care program. As the first step toward this goal, the coalition recently implemented a managed pharmaceutical program.
Subject(s)
Group Purchasing/organization & administration , Health Benefit Plans, Employee/organization & administration , Managed Care Programs/organization & administration , Cost Savings , Drug Utilization Review , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Group Purchasing/economics , Health Benefit Plans, Employee/economics , Health Care Coalitions , Michigan , Pharmaceutical Services/economics , Pharmaceutical Services/organization & administrationABSTRACT
Out of 325 patients with diabetes mellitus 24 (7.4%) suffered from pancreatic fibrosis-calcification. Of these 21 were below the age of 30 years. Sorghum (Jowar) was the staple diet for all. Most patients belonged to the lowest socio-economic strata.
