Correlation between saliva and serum for human immunodeficiency virus 1 and 2 antibodies using a rapid test system

Area of Science:

• * Virology and Infectious Diseases
• * Diagnostic Test Development
• * Public Health Screening

Background:

• * Current human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnostics predominantly rely on serum (blood) analysis.
• * Venepuncture for blood collection can be challenging in certain clinical or field settings.
• * Developing alternative, non-invasive diagnostic methods for HIV is a significant public health goal.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To evaluate the diagnostic performance of a prototype OraScreen saliva dipstick for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) detection.
• * To compare the accuracy of the saliva-based test against established serum-based diagnostic assays.
• * To assess the feasibility of using saliva as a viable sample type for HIV testing.

Main Methods:

• * The prototype OraScreen saliva dipsticks were tested on 278 samples.
• * Samples included individuals with confirmed HIV, attendees of a sexually transmitted disease clinic, and healthy controls.
• * Saliva test results were compared with serum-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot tests.

Main Results:

• * The OraScreen saliva test achieved a specificity of 99.5% and a sensitivity of 94.7%.
• * These results indicate a high degree of accuracy in identifying individuals with and without HIV.
• * The test performed comparably to standard serum-based diagnostic methods.

Conclusions:

• * The prototype OraScreen dipstick demonstrates significant potential as a reliable method for saliva-based HIV testing.
• * Saliva testing offers a convenient alternative to blood collection, particularly in resource-limited or inconvenient settings.
• * Further large-scale studies in low-prevalence populations are warranted to fully validate saliva testing for HIV.