Performance of a rapid and simple HIV testing algorithm in a multicenter phase III microbicide clinical trial

A multi-test sequential algorithm based on Rapid/Simple (R/S) assays was applied for the diagnosis of HIV infection among participants in a phase 3 microbicide effectiveness trial. HIV testing was performed on finger-prick blood samples from patients after their enrollment in the trial. The specimens were tested in a serial procedure using three different rapid tests (Determine HIV-1/2 (Abbott), SD Bioline HIV 1/2 3.0 (Standard Diagnostics), and Uni-Gold HIV (Trinity Biotech)). In the event of discordant results between the Determine HIV 1/2 and SD Bioline HIV 1/2 3.0 tests, a third assay (i.e., Uni-Gold HIV) determined the final outcome. When the final outcome was positive, a second specimen was collected and tested with the same algorithm, only if a positive result was obtained with this sample the participant was informed of her positive serostatus. A total of 5734 post-enrollment specimens obtained from 1398 women were tested. Forty-six women tested positive according to the testing algorithm performed on the first collected specimen. Confirmatory testing results obtained at the ITM confirmed that 42 women were truly infected. Two out of four initial false positives tested negative upon testing of a second blood specimen. The other two tested false positive twice using specimens collected on the same day. A high percentage of specimens reactive with the Determine HIV-1/2 assay only were observed in the study site in Kampala. This result did not appear to be associated with pregnancy or malaria infection. HIV testing algorithms including only R/S assays are suitable for use in clinical trials, provided that adequate quality assurance procedures are in place.