Evaluation of diagnostic tests for HIV infection in infants born to HIV-infected mothers in Switzerland

Pitfalls with rapid HIV antibody testing in HIV-infected children in the Western Cape, South Africa

“…van Zyl). on inexpensive antibody tests to document HIV exposure (Jendis et al, 1988). In resource-constrained settings, rapid HIV antibody tests are often used in line with WHO recommendations (WHO, 2004a,b).…”

Rapid Oral Fluid HIV Antibody Testing in Exposed Babies: A Diagnostic Study

“…Moodley et al reported 100% maternal antibody clearance by 15months,[15] while Jendis et al reported that HIV specific IgG was detected in 100% of their cohort by 12months and was still positive in 83% by 13 to 18 months. Weak HIV-specific IgG were also observed in the later study above the age of 15 months with no other signs of HIV infection, suggesting that the demonstration of antibodies in children beyond this age did not necessarily indicate HIV infection[16].HIV infected individuals on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) have been known to have false negative results with rapid tests as was the case in a South African study carried out among adults by Scott et al[17]. The present study excluded children who were on ART; therefore the one case of false negative result for both Test A and Test B could not be explained by use of ART.…”

Laboratory testing for the diagnosis of HIV infection : updated recommendations

“…These updated recommendations are intended only for testing of serum or plasma specimens from adults and children aged 2 years or older. Because maternal antibodies against HIV might be present in uninfected infants born to HIV-infected mothers, 36,37 specific recommendations to establish the presence or absence of the diagnosis of HIV infection in infants are described elsewhere. 38 These updated recommendations do not address methods or strategies for screening blood or organ donors for HIV infection; the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) have issued separate guidance and recommendations on this topic.…”