Evaluation of HIV testing algorithms in Ethiopia: the role of the tie-breaker algorithm and weakly reacting test lines in contributing to a high rate of false positive HIV diagnoses

• Published in: BMC infectious diseases Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 39
• Main Authors: Shanks, Leslie, Siddiqui, M Ruby, Kliescikova, Jarmila, Pearce, Neil, Ariti, Cono, Muluneh, Libsework, Pirou, Erwan, Ritmeijer, Koert, Masiga, Johnson, Abebe, Almaz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 03.02.2015; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Algorithms; Child; Diagnostic Tests, Routine - methods; Ethiopia - epidemiology; False Positive Reactions; Female; Health aspects; HIV Infections - diagnosis; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV testing; Humans; Male; Mass Screening - methods; Methods; Middle Aged; Sensitivity and Specificity; Young Adult; Ethiopia

In Ethiopia a tiebreaker algorithm using 3 rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in series is used to diagnose HIV. Discordant results between the first 2 RDTs are resolved by a third 'tiebreaker' RDT. Médecins Sans Frontières uses an alternate serial algorithm of 2 RDTs followed by a confirmation...