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A review of the impact of cost and quality of HIV kits on HIV testing in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital
Abstract
Background: When HIV antibodies testing was introduced in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano a couple of years ago,
Double ELISA was used to test blood samples before a particular specimen was diagnosed as reactive or non-reactive. A time came when immunoconfirmatory test was introduced into HIV antibodies testing for confirmations of the presence of HIV. Objectives: This present retospective study is to review the impact of cost and quality of HIV reagent kits in the two periods A and B on the patients and confidence on the health care provider.
Methods: We collated and compared laboratory records for both periods of HIV antibodies testing at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano consisting of period A from November 1997 to May 1998 (7 months) and period B from November 1998 to May
1999 (7months). In period A, double ELISA was used (Genie II and Immunocomb Bispot) while in period B, Immunocomb Bispot and Immunoconfirm II were used Results: The results show that the cost per test increased from two hundred and fifty Naira($2) to five hundred Naira($4). There was a reduction on the number of patients from 289 to 258 within the two periods. But the prevalence of reactive HIV antibodies decreased from 43.6% to 36.8%.
Conclusion: The period when Immunoconfirmatory technique was introduced brought assurance, reliability and confidence to HIV diagnosis test in the centre.
Double ELISA was used to test blood samples before a particular specimen was diagnosed as reactive or non-reactive. A time came when immunoconfirmatory test was introduced into HIV antibodies testing for confirmations of the presence of HIV. Objectives: This present retospective study is to review the impact of cost and quality of HIV reagent kits in the two periods A and B on the patients and confidence on the health care provider.
Methods: We collated and compared laboratory records for both periods of HIV antibodies testing at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano consisting of period A from November 1997 to May 1998 (7 months) and period B from November 1998 to May
1999 (7months). In period A, double ELISA was used (Genie II and Immunocomb Bispot) while in period B, Immunocomb Bispot and Immunoconfirm II were used Results: The results show that the cost per test increased from two hundred and fifty Naira($2) to five hundred Naira($4). There was a reduction on the number of patients from 289 to 258 within the two periods. But the prevalence of reactive HIV antibodies decreased from 43.6% to 36.8%.
Conclusion: The period when Immunoconfirmatory technique was introduced brought assurance, reliability and confidence to HIV diagnosis test in the centre.
