Reducing the cost of HIV antibody testing.
Available tests to detect antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a range of applications, and injudicious selection and inappropriate use can add a significant financial burden to budgets for AIDS programmes in developing countries. There are several ways by which the cost of HIV antibody testing can be reduced; they include use of tests appropriate for existing laboratory capabilities; adoption of cost-effective testing strategies; pooling of serum samples before testing; and ensuring best possible purchase prices. Each approach can significantly reduce the cost of HIV antibody testing alone or in combination, which increases the potential sustainability of antibody testing programmes, even in settings of limited resources.
Tamashiro
H
H
Diagnostics Unit, Global Programme on AIDS, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.
Maskill
W
W
Emmanuel
J
J
Fauquex
A
A
Sato
P
P
Heymann
D
D
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000379:methods*; D003906:Developing Countries; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D015498:HIV-2; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000191:economics; D013048:Specimen Handling
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic