Rapid HIV test: accuracy, instructions

A rapid (spot) or express HIV test can be performed outside specialized laboratories, does not require any equipment, and the results are known in a maximum of 30 minutes. However, some specialists are skeptical about this diagnostic method, noting the questionable reliability and accuracy of the express HIV test.

Indications for an express HIV test and where to do it

First of all, indications for rapid HIV testing, which can detect the infection at home, include cases associated with an increased risk of infection:

• after an urgent (unplanned) blood transfusion;
• in case of sexual violence or sexual contact with a possible carrier of this virus;
• when a healthcare worker comes into contact with the blood of an AIDS patient (during diagnostic procedures or surgical interventions).

The need for this test arises if the patient complains of significant, unexplained weight loss or a long-term fever (and the attending physician discovers enlarged lymph nodes).

Important!

It is possible to take tests, including rapid tests, no earlier than 3 months after the suspected infection. Repeated tests are carried out every 3 months for 1 year.

Rapid express testing is used when this analysis is not available due to the lack of specialized laboratories.

In addition, the rapid HIV test is used for screening risk groups - for the purpose of epidemiological surveillance among certain categories of the population with an increased probability of infection with this virus. In this case, as well as when contacting any of the AIDS Prevention Centers, the rapid HIV test is carried out free of charge.

Where can I get a rapid HIV test?

To determine the immunodeficiency virus and antibodies, there are specialized laboratories for the diagnosis of HIV infection that have the right to conduct these studies and the appropriate accreditation.

Rapid HIV test in pharmacies

You can purchase a rapid HIV test at pharmacies, which most often offer:

• Cito test HIV 1/2 (Pharmasco), Vikia HIV 1/2 (BioMerieux) – rapid immunochromatographic assay (ICA) that determines the presence of antibodies to HIV types 1 and 2 in blood, serum and blood plasma;
• express HIV test using saliva – OraQuick HIV-1/2 Rapid Antibody Test or express HIV test OraQuick Advance (sensitivity over 94%); manufacturer – OraSure Technologies (USA). Many call it a home express HIV test, because to conduct it you do not need to take blood from a vein (as is done in laboratories) or from a finger (piercing it with a scarifier – as when conducting Cito test HIV 1/2), since saliva serves as the biomaterial for checking the presence/absence of the virus;
• rapid HIV test Abon Biopharm – Abon HIV 1/2/0 Tri-Line Rapid Test (manufacturer – Abon Biopharm Hangzhou Co., China).

No special preparation is required to perform such a rapid test, and how to use the rapid HIV test is explained in detail in the step-by-step instructions included with the specific test kit, which should be followed exactly.

Rapid HIV test of the 4th generation – for example, OnSite HIV Ag/Ab Rapid Test (CTK Biotech Inc.) or HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Combo Rapid Test – diagnostic kits for combined immune analysis of serum, plasma or whole blood for HIV-1 p24 antigen, as well as antibodies (IgG, IgM, IgA) to both types of HIV. To date, doctors' reviews of this type of rapid testing are contradictory, and, apparently, their results often diverge from laboratory research data.

Can you trust rapid HIV tests?

In this regard, a natural question arises regarding the diagnostic value of the results of assessment studies conducted using diagnostic systems for the rapid detection of the immunodeficiency virus.

According to information from their manufacturers, the reliability and accuracy of the rapid HIV test is determined at 99-99.5%. But according to research, this figure may be much lower.

Currently, the most reliable results of the HIV express test are given by immunochromatographic tests. When one strip is visualized on the indicator - the control one, the HIV express test is negative. A reactive result, that is, the HIV express test is positive (when there are two stripes on the indicator - a colored one and a control one), is considered preliminary by all specialists, and it is necessary to undergo repeated testing - a study in a laboratory where other, more accurate methods are used, in particular, immunoblot.

If the test was performed incorrectly, the indicator may show only one strip (without the control), which can be considered an error. In this case, it is recommended to perform the test again with a new kit. One option for confirming reactive results is to immediately perform a second rapid test from a different manufacturer. If the second test is not reactive, it can be assumed that the person is not infected. But if the second test is also positive, then it is quite likely that the person is infected.

It should be emphasized again that all positive results from rapid assessment tests – especially if the OraQuick saliva HIV rapid test is used – must be confirmed (or refuted) by blood tests in a specialized laboratory.