title: Human immunodeficiency virus testing for patient-based and population-based diagnosis.
abstract: Laboratory testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been introduced for individual patient-based diagnosis as well as high-risk and low-risk population-based screening. The choice of test, confirmatory algorithm, and interpretative criteria used depend on the clinical setting. In the context of general population-based testing, factors affecting test performance will have to be considered carefully in the development of testing policy.
authors.affiliation: Provincial Laboratory of Public Health, University of Alberta Hospitals, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Albritton
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vittinghoff
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Padian
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005544:Forecasting; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011050:Policy Making; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity