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. 2020 May 31;9(5):2437-2441.
doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_138_20. eCollection 2020 May.

Evaluation and diagnostic usefulness of saliva for detection of HIV antibodies: A cross-sectional study

Puneeta Vohra  1 , Vikram Belkhode  2 , Sharayu Nimonkar  2 , Suraj Potdar  3 , Rishabh Bhanot  4 , Izna  5 , Rahul Vinay Chandra Tiwari  6
Affiliations

Evaluation and diagnostic usefulness of saliva for detection of HIV antibodies: A cross-sectional study

Puneeta Vohra et al. J Family Med Prim Care. .

Abstract

Background: Use of saliva as a specimen for detection of antibodies to infectious agents has generated particular interest in AIDS research community since 1980s. HIV specific antibodies of immunoglobulin isotypes IgA, IgG, and IgM are readily found in salivary secretions.

Aim and objectives: In the present study, HIV specific antibodies were detected in saliva and serum samples of HIV patients by ELISA in confirmed HIV seropositive patients and efficacy of saliva was established in diagnosis of HIV.

Methods: The 100 saliva and serum samples were collected from age and sex matched confirmed HIV seropositive subjects and 100 Healthy Controls without any infections. HIV antibodies were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using Genscreen HIV 1/2 Kit.

Results: The results were found to be 99% sensitive and 100% specific for saliva samples, while it was 100% sensitive and specific for serum samples.

Conclusion: Saliva can be used as alternative to blood for detection of HIV antibodies as saliva collection is painless, non-invasive, inexpensive, simple, and rapid. Salivary antibody testing may provide better access to epidemic outbreaks, children, large populations, hard-to-reach risk groups and may thus play a major role in the surveillance and control of highly infectious diseases.

Keywords: Antibodies; HIV; saliva; serum.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Occupation status in study and control groups. It was seen that most of HIV positive males were laborers (33.3%) and truck drivers (21%) by occupation, whereas most of HIV positive females were housewives (46.5%)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Antibody detection in saliva and serum of HIV positive study group Out of 100 subjects in the study group, 99 (99%) were tested positive for HIV antibodies in saliva and all the subjects were detected HIV positive in serum of HIV positive subjects, whereas all the subjects 100 (100%) were tested negative for HIV antibodies in serum and saliva of control group (P-value <0.05). ELISA kit was found to be 99% sensitive and 100% specific for detection of HIV antibody in saliva of the study group, whereas it was found 100% sensitive and specific for detection of antibodies in serum of study group (P-value <0.05)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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