COMPARISON OF TWO GENERATIONS OF WELLCOZYME KITS

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

A study to compare the specificity of two generations of Wellcozyme kits was performed using sera obtained from three different groups with different prevalence rates of HIV-1 infection, namely, females with multi-partner sexual contacts (MPSC) with an average HIV prevalence of 20% representing the high risk group, specimens from patients who have been suspected to have been infected with HIV based on clinical diagnosis, and scholarship winners with a prevalence rate of 3.4%. ELISA was performed on 1000 samples from each of the first two groups and 377 samples from the third group using both generation of kits. The percentage of false positivity using the first generation kit was 16.3% (33/202), 5.1% (14/271),36% (9/39) and using the second generation kit, 7.94% (12/151), 0.25% (1/399) and 5.8% (1/19) in MPSC females, suspected AIDS patients and scholarship students respectively. ELISA false positivity was highest in the group with a low HIV sero-prevalence rate. The result of the study, in relation to the specificity of the kits, is presented. Students who have won scholarships to countries that require HIV testing.