RAPID HIV TESTING WITH SAME-DAY RESULTS - A FIELD TRIAL IN UGANDA

Rapid, on-site HIV testing with same-day results may improve services and increase the number of clients who learn their serostatus in devel oping countries. To validate test performance under field conditions a nd assess the change in the proportion of clients who learn their sero status, we conducted a field trial using the Capillus HIV-1/HIV-2 assa y (Cambridge Diagnostics) at the AIDS information Centre counselling a nd testing sites in Uganda. Compared to the standard 2-EIA testing alg orithm, the sensitivity of Capillus was 99.6% (95% CI; 98.5%, 99.9%), the specificity was 98.8% (95% CI; 98.1%, 99.3%), the positive predict ive value was 96.5% (95% CI; 94.5%, 97.8%), and the negative predictiv e value was 99.9% (95% CI; 99.5%, 100%). It took less than 5 min to pe rform a single test, and results were returned to clients in less than an hour, during which time clients were counselled. This resulted in a 27% increase in the proportion of clients who learned their serostat us and received counselling. We conclude that simple, rapid HIV tests can be performed accurately on-site within the time frame of a clinic visit, increasing the number of clients who learn their serostatus and receive pest-test counselling.