Is there a wastage of resources due to non-specificity of anti-HIV ELISAs?
A library of anti-HIV ELISA 'grey-area' and repeatably reactive samples sent for confirmatory testing, were retested using a second technique, the modified (Fujirebio Gelatin Particle) agglutination test (MAT). On testing 224 grey-area reactive samples, only four were found to be reactive with this second test. On retesting a further 259 ELISA repeatably reactive samples, of which only 33 were confirmed to be anti-HIV-1, only 45 were reactive by MAT; these included the 33 confirmed as positive samples, thereby reducing the false-positive from 226 to 12. The introduction of this second technique supported our decision to cease the referral of grey-area samples. It also demonstrated the high prevalence of non-specificity of repeatable reactivity associated with some of the most specific ELISA kits currently available.
Rodriguez
M A
MA
North London Blood Transfusion Centre, Colindale, London, U.K.
Runganga
J
J
Contreras
M
M
Ahya
R
R
Barbara
J A
JA
D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity