Screening of Suspected HIV-AIDS Patients: A Comparative Study Evaluating HIV-ICT Device and ELISA

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Immunochromatographic device in comparison with Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbrent Assay. Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive comparative study certified by Ethical Review Board of Allama Iqbal Medical College Lahore. Study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Allama Iqbal Medical College Lahore. A total of 106 study subjects were included by using convenient sampling method within the duration of 4 months. Samples were processed in ELISA section, Department of Pathology, Allama Iqbal Medical College. Data was entered and analysed by using SPSS 22.0. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Out of 106 patients 28 samples had been reported as positive with HIV–ELISA whereas, HIV ICT devices reported 21 cases as positive. On the other hand 78 samples stood negative with HIV-ELISA and 85 samples remained negative with HIV-ICT device. For HIV ICT device, the calculated sensitivity was 71.4% and the Specificity was 98.7%. The Positive Predictive Value (PPV) was 95.2% whereas the Negative Predictive Value (NPV) was 90.6%. Conclusion: The ICT device is a rapid, reliable and valid device with shortest turn-around time and can be used in emergency settings and in low resource settings. Although, the device showed high sensitivity and specificity, but it cannot be taken as an ultimate diagnostic tool for HIV screening. Final diagnosis should be based on anti HIV 1/2 ELISA, Western Blot and PCR findings (Gold standard diagnostic assay).