Tools
Tools
Maan, Irfaan, Lawrence, David S, Tlhako, Nametso, Ramontshonyana, Kehumile, Mussa, Aamirah, Wynn, Adriane, Marks, Michael, Ramogola-Masire, Doreen and Morroni, Chelsea 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2026-6039
(2021)
'Using a dual antibody point-of-care test with visual and digital reads to diagnose syphilis among people living with HIV in Botswana'. International Journal of Std & Aids, Vol 32, Issue 5, pp. 453-461.
|
Text
CM STD_AIDS.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (692kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Syphilis data from low- and middle-income countries are lacking due to limited testing. Point-of-care tests (POCTs) have been promoted to expand testing but previously only included treponemal tests, which cannot distinguish active from past infection. We aimed to assess the feasibility of using a combined treponemal and non-treponemal POCT in HIV clinic patients in Gaborone, Botswana, and estimate syphilis prevalence in our clinic sample using this approach. We recruited 390 non-pregnant patients. Participants underwent a combined treponemal and non-treponemal POCT (Dual Path Platform (DPP®) Syphilis Screen and Confirm Assay (Chembio Diagnostic Systems)) on finger-prick blood sample and a questionnaire. Median age 45 years, 30% men, median CD4 count 565 cells/μL, and 91% had an HIV viral load <400 copies/mL. Five participants had active syphilis (1.3%, 95% CI 0.5-3.0%) and 64 had previous syphilis (16.4%, 95% CI 13.0-20.4%) using the DPP POCT. There was a reasonable level of agreement between digital and visual reading of the POCT (kappa statistic of 0.81); however, visual reading missed three active infections (60%). The level of active syphilis was similar to local antenatal data. The DPP POCT led to five participants with active syphilis being diagnosed and starting same-day treatment. The digital reader should be used.
Statistics
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit Item |