Evaluation of the efficiency of the various techniques used for screening of HIV in antenatal mothers to facilitate early initiation of treatment

The study has been conducted in pregnant women in the high risk category attending the antenatal O.P at M.N.R Hospital and medical college and Niloufer Hospital for a defined period. The screening tests for HIV used are Coombaids, (Dot Immunoassay), as per NACO guidelines & Fourth-Generation (double antigen/antibody Sandwich with solid micro wells pre-coated with Recombinant HIV-1gp41, HIV-1 Group O gp41, HIV-2 gp36, & amp; Monoclonal Anti p24 Antibodies. The individual sensitivity and specificity were evaluated and compared. The sera of all the women screened by COOMBAIDS were tested negative & out of all the negative samples one sample was tested positive by 4th generation ELISA. Hence, this study was carried out to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of various techniques for Antibody detection and Antigen detection, and to determine the technique most suitable for early diagnosis of HIV infection.⁴