A meta-analysis finds that point-of-care HIV tests are not as sensitive as lab-based antigen/antibody assays, particularly in patients with acute infection.
Assays that detect HIV nucleic acid (nucleic acid tests [NATs]) or HIV p24 antigen along with HIV antibodies (fourth-generation antigen/antibody tests) become positive before tests that solely detect HIV antibodies. Because many point-of-care (POC) rapid HIV tests are based on HIV antibody detection, they may miss patients with acute infection. To determine the sensitivity of POC rapid tests compared with fourth-generation antigen/antibody tests and NATs, investigators performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that compared these assays.
The analysis included 18 studies involving more than 110,000 rapid-test results. In 13 studies, the rapid test relied on detection of HIV antibodies alone; in 5 studies, the rapid test detec…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; ID Images (idimages.org); Infectious Diseases Society of America COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines; International Antiviral Society–USA (Guidelines Committee)
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHIV Medicine Association; Infectious Diseases Society of America (Board of Directors)
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; ID Images (idimages.org); Infectious Diseases Society of America COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines; International Antiviral Society–USA (Guidelines Committee)
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHIV Medicine Association; Infectious Diseases Society of America (Board of Directors)