Efficacy of HIV PCR techniques to diagnose HIV in infants born to HIV infected mothers--an Indian perspective

Abstract

Aim: To determine the efficiency of HIV DNA PCR (qualitative) and HIV RNA PCR (quantitative) to detect or rule out HIV infection in infants born to HIV infected mothers.

Setting: Pediatric and perinatal HIV clinic in a tertiary pediatric hospital.

Study design: Prospective study

Methods and materials: 52 infants born to HIV positive mother were tested for HIV infection by HIV DNA PCR or HIV-1 viral load from 1.5 to 7 months of age. Their HIV status was confirmed by an HIV ELISA test at 18 months of age.

Results: Of the 36 patients tested by HIV DNA PCR test, 15 patients (41.8%) had a positive test and 21 patients (58.2%) had a negative test. 12 patients (80%) had a false positive test (80%) and no patient had a false negative test. Sensitivity of HIV DNA test 100% with specificity of 53.9%. Of the 18 patients tested by HIV viral load, 17 patients (94.4%) had a negative test and 1 patient (5.6%) had a positive test. No patient had a false negative or false positive test. Sensitivity and specificity of HIV viral load was 100%, which was statistically significant (p=0.0004).

Conclusion: HIV-RNA PCR (quantitative) is highly specific and sensitive test for diagnosing and excluding perinatal HIV infection in children in India.