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HIV testing among injecting drug users in Glasgow
The Journal of Infection
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Saliva testing offers a practical alternative to blood for HIV prevalence studies among drug users. Salivettes provided accurate HIV-1 antibody detection, comparable to blood tests, with high compliance.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Virology
- Public Health
Background:
- Blood collection for HIV prevalence studies presents challenges, particularly with vulnerable populations like injecting drug users.
- Saliva offers a less invasive and more practical alternative for epidemiological surveillance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of using saliva samples collected via salivettes for anonymous HIV-1 antibody testing among drug users.
- To determine the HIV-1 prevalence within this population in Glasgow.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted in Glasgow in 1990 among drug users.
- Anonymous salivary samples were collected using salivettes from 498 participants.
- HIV-1 antibody testing was performed using IgG antibody capture ELISA; saliva and blood spot samples were compared for concordance.
Main Results:
- A compliance rate of 93% was achieved for saliva sample collection.
- The HIV-1 antibody prevalence was found to be 1.8% (8 out of 455 specimens).
- Testing of saliva and concurrent blood spot samples showed 100% concordance for HIV-1 antibody detection.
Conclusions:
- Saliva collection using salivettes is a feasible and effective method for HIV-1 antibody testing in epidemiological studies, even with non-medical staff.
- Saliva testing provides results comparable to traditional blood tests, supporting its use in hard-to-reach populations.
- The study confirmed the utility of saliva-based HIV surveillance in diverse settings.