Suitability of a rapid immunochromatographic test for detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus in Ghana, West Africa

In West African countries such as Ghana, efficient human immunodeficiency v irus (Hn? testing is a priority in the fight against AIDS, A new immunochro matographic rapid test, Determine HIV-1/2 (Abbott Diagnostics, North Chicag o, Ill,), that detects antibodies against HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and/or HIV-2 w as evaluated using Ghanaian blood samples, Two hundred four serum and/or pl asma specimens were tested. HIV screening was done by a particle agglutinat ion test and confirmed by a Western blot (WB) test as the "gold standard." The results revealed 125 HIV-seropositive AIDS patients, 75 HIV-seronegativ e healthy individuals, and 4 individuals for whom the HIV-1 result was inde terminate. The results obtained by the Determine HIV-1/2 assay and Diagnost ic HIV SPOT (Genelabs), which is currently widely used in many districts in Ghana, were compared with those of the WE test, excluding the four HIV-1-i ndeterminate samples. The sensitivity of the Determine HIV-1/2 assay was 10 0%, compared with 98.0% for the HIV SPOT assay. The specificity was 100% fo r both tests. Determine HIV-1/2 is a single-step assay and was found to be rapid and easy to perform without any special equipment. It was highly sens itive and specific. The kit can be applied without electricity and water su pplies, making it suitable for the detection of HIV antibodies especially i n the rural areas of Ghana, West Africa.