title: Cohort study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing among patients receiving long-term dialysis at a university hospital.
abstract: In a longitudinal study to determine the seroprevalence of antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the natural history of a positive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) result we followed a cohort of 98 patients receiving long-term dialysis. Eight patients (8.2%) in the cohort had a positive EIA and a negative Western blot test result. The EIA-positive results of all patients seroconverted to negative during follow-up. No illness suggestive of HIV infection developed in any of the patients. Significantly associated with a false positive EIA were prior renal transplantation, transfusions during the months just before the positive EIA result, and a greater number of lifetime transfusions before the positive test result. We confirm that routine HIV screening of patients receiving long-term dialysis is associated with a high rate of false positive EIA results and conclude that such testing is unnecessary in the absence of established risk factors for HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Poole
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Normansell
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Westervelt
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Farr
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000592:standards; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; D006757:Hospital Units; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014768:Virginia