2 research outputs found
Prevalence and outcomes of HIV-1 diagnostic challenges during universal birth testing ā an urban South African observational cohort
IINTRODUCTION : HIV-1 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing at birth aims to facilitate earlier initiation of antiretroviral
therapy (ART) for HIV-infected neonates. Data from two years of universal birth testing implementation in a high-burden
South African urban setting are presented to demonstrate the prevalence and outcomes of diagnostic challenges in this
context.
METHODS : HIV-exposed neonates born at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital between 5 June 2014 and 31 August
2016 were routinely screened at birth for HIV-1 on whole blood samples using the COBASĀ® AmpliPrep/COBASĀ® TaqMan
(CAP/CTM) HIV-1 Qualitative Test, version 2.0 (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Branchburg, NJ, USA). Virological results were
interpreted according to standard operating procedures with the South African National Health Laboratory Service. All
neonates with non-negative results were actively followed-up and categorized according to HIV infection status as positive,
negative, uncertain and lost to follow-up (LTFU).
RESULTS : 104 (1.8%) of 5743 HIV-exposed neonates received a non-negative birth PCR result, for which laboratory data were
available for 102 (98%) cases ā 78 (76%) tested positive and 24 (24%) indeterminate. HIV infection status was confirmed
positive in 83 (81%) infants, negative in 8 (8%), uncertain in 5 (5%) and LTFU in 6 (6%) cases. The positive predictive value
(excluding cases of uncertain diagnosis and inadequate testing) following a non-negative HIV-1 PCR screening test at birth was
0.91 (83/91; 95% confidence interval: 0.85ā0.96). Neonates testing positive at birth had significantly higher viral load (VL)
results than those testing indeterminate at birth of 4.5 and 3.0 log copies/ml (p = 0.0007), respectively. Similarly, mothers of
neonates with positive as compared to indeterminate birth test results had higher VLs of 4.5 and 2.7 log copies/ml (p = 0.0013),
respectively. Half of neonates with an indeterminate birth test were shown to be HIV-infected on subsequent confirmatory
testing, with time to final diagnosis 30 days longer for these neonates (p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSION : Indeterminate HIV-1 PCR results accounted for a quarter of non-negative results at birth and were associated
with a high risk of infection in comparison to the risk of in utero transmission. Indeterminate birth results with positive HIV
PCR results on repeat testing were associated with later final diagnosis. The HIV-1 status remains uncertain in a minority of
cases because of repeatedly indeterminate results, highlighting the need for more sensitive and specific virological tests.The National Institutes of Health U01
HD080441, PEPfAR/USAID and UNICEF.http://www.jiasociety.orgam2017Medical Virolog