title: An HIV1/2 point of care test on sputum for screening TB/HIV co-infection in Central India - Will it work?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the OraQuick® HIV-1/2 Assay (OraSure Technologies, Inc., Bethlehem, PA, USA) in sputum is a valid tool for HIV surveillance among TB patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was carried out on sputa of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis. Sputa were tested for antibodies to HIV using OraQuick® HIV-1/2 Assay (OraSure Technologies, Inc., Bethlehem, PA, USA). The results were compared with results of serum ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to serum ELISA, the OraQuick® HIV-1/2 Assay in sputum specimens reported 90% sensitivity (9/10) and 100% specificity (307/307), with a positive predictive value of 100% (95%CI: 66.37%-100.00%) and a negative predictive value of 99.68% (95%CI: 98.20%-99.99%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This testing method may provide a useful strategy for conducting HIV surveillance in possible co-infected TB patients at peripheral centres. Since there is no investment on infrastructure, it may be possible for paramedical health professionals to carry out the test, particularly in areas with low HIV endemicity.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre, Bhopal, India. prabhadesikan@yahoo.com
authors: Prabha
authors: P
authors: Desikan
authors: Sajal
authors: S
authors: De
authors: Nitika Pant
authors: NP
authors: Pai
authors: Pradyumna K
authors: PK
authors: Mishra
authors: Kaushal
authors: K
authors: Kumar
authors: Nikita
authors: N
authors: Panwalkar
authors: Mayanka
authors: M
authors: Verma
authors: Zia Ul
authors: ZU
authors: Hasan
authors: Kewal K
authors: KK
authors: Maudar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult