ArticleSexually transmitted diseases2020
Performance of an Alternative Laboratory-Based HIV Diagnostic Testing Algorithm Using HIV-1 RNA Viral Load.
Article in Sexually transmitted diseases, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- Different approaches to HIV confirmation: a survey of three Italian regions.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026Article
- Nucleic acid testing-optimized HIV diagnostic algorithms: a multimethod comparative effectiveness analysis in clinical practice.British journal of biomedical science · 2026Article
- Challenges in HIV Diagnosis Algorithm: Experience of the Confirmation Laboratory.Journal of tropical medicine · 2025Article
- Reflex Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Type 1 RNA Testing Enables Timely Differentiation of False-Positive Results From Acute HIV Infection.Open forum infectious diseases · 2024Article
- Review
- HIV and Drug-Resistant Subtypes.Microorganisms · 2023Review
- An HIV Diagnostic Testing Algorithm Using the cobas HIV-1/HIV-2 Qualitative Assay for HIV Type Differentiation and Confirmation.Journal of clinical microbiology · 2021Article
- Highlights From the 2019 HIV Diagnostics Conference: Optimizing Testing for HIV, STIs, and HCV.Sexually transmitted diseases · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundSince 2014, the recommended algorithm for laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection in the United States has consisted of an HIV-1/2 antigen/antibody (Ag/Ab) test followed by an HIV-1/2 antibody (Ab) differentiation test and, if necessary, a diagnostic HIV-1 nucleic acid test to resolve discordant or indeterminate results.
methodsUsing stored specimens from persons seeking HIV testing who had not received a previous diagnosis or treatment, we compared the performance of a 3-step alternative algorithm consisting of an Ag/Ab test followed by a quantitative HIV-1 RNA viral load assay and, if viral load is not detected, an Ab differentiation test, to that of the recommended algorithm. We calculated the sensitivity and specificity of 5 Ag/Ab tests and the proportion of specimens correctly classified by the alternative algorithm compared with the recommended algorithm. Results were examined separately for specimens classified as early infection, established infection, and false-reactive screening.
resultsSensitivity and specificity were similar among all Ag/Ab tests. Viral load quantification correctly classified all specimens from early infection, all false-reactive screening specimens, and the majority of specimens from established infection.
conclusionsAlthough cost, regulatory barriers, test availability, and the ability to differentiate early from established infection must be considered, this alternative algorithm can potentially decrease the total number of tests performed and reduce turnaround time, thereby streamlining HIV diagnosis and initiation of treatment.
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