The saliva test for HIV effective

Tags: AIDS, AIDS treatment, HIV —

A test of saliva instead of blood tests to detect the AIDS virus. A meta-analysis published this week in the journal ‘The Lancet Infectious Diseases’ , this tool has an accuracy similar to the traditional test based on the study of a blood sample.

“While previous studies have shown that this test (OraQuick HIV 1 / 2) is promising, ours is the first to assess its global potential,” said Nikita Pant Pai, lead author of the research and medical scientist at McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Canada. This is a job analysis that compares the world who value the sensitivity of the oral test. This is how Pant Pai and his team have concluded that this test has an accuracy of 99% in high-risk populations and 97% in low-risk population.

This event has the approval of both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European (EMA). In fact, “in Spain is being used for screening in large populations, into shooting galleries … It is very useful for rapid diagnosis and cost many people, “said Juan Carlos Lopez Bernaldo de Quiros, a specialist in diseases unit Infectious Gregorio Marañón Hospital in Madrid. “Unsuccessful risk to the person performing the test and, since many people are reluctant to puncture, but also reduces the number of rejections for this issue.”

The test, as the authors emphasize the meta-analysis, it is noninvasive and painless. Is to rub with a small palette gum for oral fluid sample and then immerse in a solution. At an average of 20 minutes, the result is ready.

Since anyone could perform this test, posed as self-test , “is a confidential option that could end the stigma associated with testing for HIV,” notes Pant Pai. So far, “getting people to be screened at the clinics has been difficult for visibility, stigma and discrimination.”

The advantages are especially significant in developing countries with high prevalence of this infection, such as sub-Saharan Africa. “In addition to facilitating the rapid treatment of those affected, does not require the intervention of medical personnel, or syringe or needle, it is cheaper.”

In any case, so far , “the rapid test with positive results should be confirmed with the traditional blood analysis (test called ELISA), which takes three to four days,” Dr. Lopez qualifies Bernaldo de Quiros