Challenges in HIV Diagnosis Algorithm: Experience of the Confirmation Laboratory

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the algorithm used in HIV diagnosis and to propose an effective new algorithm for rapid diagnosis. In accordance with CDC algorithm, our laboratory uses Architect HIVAg/Ab for screening and Geenius HIV1/2 and Artus HIVirus-1 QS-RGQ for confirmation....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Özgür Appak, Derya Özarslan, Arzu Nazlı, Ayca Arzu Sayiner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Tropical Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jotm/5111633
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1825199966884200448
author Özgür Appak
Derya Özarslan
Arzu Nazlı
Ayca Arzu Sayiner
author_facet Özgür Appak
Derya Özarslan
Arzu Nazlı
Ayca Arzu Sayiner
author_sort Özgür Appak
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the algorithm used in HIV diagnosis and to propose an effective new algorithm for rapid diagnosis. In accordance with CDC algorithm, our laboratory uses Architect HIVAg/Ab for screening and Geenius HIV1/2 and Artus HIVirus-1 QS-RGQ for confirmation. The Geenius test was used as a reflex and the HIV-1-RNA required clinician order. The HIVAg/Ab test was performed in 82,882 sera and found to be reactive in 262 (0.3%). HIV-antibody confirmatory testing was performed on 79% of samples with a reactive screening test, and the presence of HIV-1 antibodies was confirmed in 51% (105/206). Half of the samples with positive-screening but negative-antibody confirmatory results were tested for HIV1-RNA, and viremia was detected in 5, confirming acute HIV1 infection. HIV1-RNA was not ordered for 49 samples with positive-screening and negative antibody-confirmation tests, and 16 of these were considered false-reactive by the clinician. The Geenius assay result was indeterminate in 1.45% (3/206) of the samples. In the algorithm, the number of Geenius tests would have been reduced by 25% if HIV-1-RNA had been applied as a reflex test to HIV-Ag/Ab positive samples and Geenius testing had been performed on RNA negative samples. A retrospective analysis showed that the HIV diagnostic algorithm was not fully implemented. An important factor was that clinicians did not order HIV-1-RNA-PCR from ELISA reactive and Geenius test negative patients. Requesting HIV-1 RNA PCR as a reflex test is thought to prevent patient losses and shorten the turnaround time of the HIV diagnosis.
format Article
id doaj-art-8e48345fc2114d89bbb32d1615eac2e4
institution Kabale University
issn 1687-9694
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Journal of Tropical Medicine
spelling doaj-art-8e48345fc2114d89bbb32d1615eac2e42025-02-08T00:00:02ZengWileyJournal of Tropical Medicine1687-96942025-01-01202510.1155/jotm/5111633Challenges in HIV Diagnosis Algorithm: Experience of the Confirmation LaboratoryÖzgür Appak0Derya Özarslan1Arzu Nazlı2Ayca Arzu Sayiner3Faculty of MedicineFaculty of MedicineFaculty of MedicineFaculty of MedicineThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the algorithm used in HIV diagnosis and to propose an effective new algorithm for rapid diagnosis. In accordance with CDC algorithm, our laboratory uses Architect HIVAg/Ab for screening and Geenius HIV1/2 and Artus HIVirus-1 QS-RGQ for confirmation. The Geenius test was used as a reflex and the HIV-1-RNA required clinician order. The HIVAg/Ab test was performed in 82,882 sera and found to be reactive in 262 (0.3%). HIV-antibody confirmatory testing was performed on 79% of samples with a reactive screening test, and the presence of HIV-1 antibodies was confirmed in 51% (105/206). Half of the samples with positive-screening but negative-antibody confirmatory results were tested for HIV1-RNA, and viremia was detected in 5, confirming acute HIV1 infection. HIV1-RNA was not ordered for 49 samples with positive-screening and negative antibody-confirmation tests, and 16 of these were considered false-reactive by the clinician. The Geenius assay result was indeterminate in 1.45% (3/206) of the samples. In the algorithm, the number of Geenius tests would have been reduced by 25% if HIV-1-RNA had been applied as a reflex test to HIV-Ag/Ab positive samples and Geenius testing had been performed on RNA negative samples. A retrospective analysis showed that the HIV diagnostic algorithm was not fully implemented. An important factor was that clinicians did not order HIV-1-RNA-PCR from ELISA reactive and Geenius test negative patients. Requesting HIV-1 RNA PCR as a reflex test is thought to prevent patient losses and shorten the turnaround time of the HIV diagnosis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jotm/5111633
spellingShingle Özgür Appak
Derya Özarslan
Arzu Nazlı
Ayca Arzu Sayiner
Challenges in HIV Diagnosis Algorithm: Experience of the Confirmation Laboratory
Journal of Tropical Medicine
title Challenges in HIV Diagnosis Algorithm: Experience of the Confirmation Laboratory
title_full Challenges in HIV Diagnosis Algorithm: Experience of the Confirmation Laboratory
title_fullStr Challenges in HIV Diagnosis Algorithm: Experience of the Confirmation Laboratory
title_full_unstemmed Challenges in HIV Diagnosis Algorithm: Experience of the Confirmation Laboratory
title_short Challenges in HIV Diagnosis Algorithm: Experience of the Confirmation Laboratory
title_sort challenges in hiv diagnosis algorithm experience of the confirmation laboratory
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jotm/5111633
work_keys_str_mv AT ozgurappak challengesinhivdiagnosisalgorithmexperienceoftheconfirmationlaboratory
AT deryaozarslan challengesinhivdiagnosisalgorithmexperienceoftheconfirmationlaboratory
AT arzunazlı challengesinhivdiagnosisalgorithmexperienceoftheconfirmationlaboratory
AT aycaarzusayiner challengesinhivdiagnosisalgorithmexperienceoftheconfirmationlaboratory