The association of false-positive rapid plasma reagin results and HIV infection.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between a false positive rapid plasma reagin (RPR) result (FP), syphilis, and HIV infection in our patients.


METHODS
A prospective study of the incidence of FP tests and syphilis in the general population and its relationship to HIV infection over a period of 6 months.


RESULTS
8.76% of the population were HIV positive. False positives were found in 15% and 1.2% of the HIV infected and noninfected patients, respectively; the attributable risk for HIV was 14.97. Syphilis was found in 5% and 0.9% of the positive and negative HIV patients, respectively; the attributable risk for HIV was 5.4.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of false positive RPR results in the HIV-infected population is significantly higher than that of the non-HIV-infected patients.
Joyanes
P
P
Department of Microbiology, University Hospital V. Macarena, Seville, Spain.
Borobio
M V
MV
Arquez
J M
JM
Perea
E J
EJ
D005189:False Positive Reactions; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods