Rapid, real-time detection of acute HIV infection in patients in Africa.
BACKGROUND
We conducted a prospective study to evaluate methods of detecting clients with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) who were acutely coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Lilongwe, Malawi.


METHODS
After informed consent was obtained, all clients with acute STDs were offered voluntary HIV counseling and testing by 2 rapid antibody tests. Samples from rapid test-negative or -discordant subjects were pooled (50 : 5 : 1) and tested for HIV RNA. Western blots were performed on all rapid test-discordant specimens with detectable HIV RNA. A subset of specimens received p24 antigen testing with standard and/or ultrasensitive methods. Patients with possible acute HIV infection were followed to confirm seroconversion.


RESULTS
A total of 1450 clients (34% female and 66% male) agreed to testing, of whom 588 (40.55%) had established HIV infection and 21 (1.45%) had acute infection. Discordant rapid antibody tests identified 7 of 21 (33.3% sensitivity), standard p24 antigen identified 12 of 16 (75% sensitivity), and ultrasensitive p24 antigen identified 15 of 17 (88% sensitivity) acute cases. By definition, the sensitivity of the RNA assay was 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
Real-time pooled RNA testing for the detection of acute HIV infection is feasible in resource-limited settings. However, parallel rapid testing and p24 antigen testing are technologically simpler and together may detect approximately 90% of acute cases.
Fiscus
Susan A
SA
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7290, USA. susan_fiscus@med.unc.edu
Pilcher
Christopher D
CD
Miller
William C
WC
Powers
Kimberly A
KA
Hoffman
Irving F
IF
Price
Matthew
M
Chilongozi
David A
DA
Mapanje
Clement
C
Krysiak
Robert
R
Gama
Syze
S
Martinson
Francis E A
FE
Cohen
Myron S
MS
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic