A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS CULTURE, POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION AND ANTI-HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN A ANTIBODY DETECTION IN THE DIAGNOSIS DURING EARLY INFANCY OF VERTICALLY ACQUIRED HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS INFECTION

Abstract

On the basis of this prospective study, HIV culture and PCR have been found to be useful diagnostic tests for HIV infection during the first 6 months of life. In the same population, HIV-specific IgA antibody assay was an insensitive diagnostic test. The authors recognize that test outcomes from a research laboratory may differ from those determined in a clinical laboratory, especially with the technique of PCR where minimal contamination can produce false positive results. Thus, in clinical practice, an infant within the first 6 months of life is considered HIV-infected by positive test results of any combination of two HIV culture on PCR tests performed on separate blood specimens.