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Abstract
Reliability and acceptability levels of rapid HIV testing in rural and urban sites
By: Serunkuuma R.1, Kalule F.2, Kewelimidde N.3
Objectives: To assess the reliability and acceptability of use in the field of Rapid HIV Testing, and to assess client and counselor acceptance/convinience of same time/day results for Voluntary Cunseling and Testing.
Methods: The capillus HIV rapid test was selected because of its ease of use under field conditions. 500 samples were tested using capillus test under field conditions in rural outreach sites and a semi urban site in Mukono district. These samples were also tested again using an ELISA test at the Regional Blood Bank. counselors were trained in giving same day pre and post test counseling and results. And clients were asked for their responses to recieving same day results.
Results: The negative predictive value of the capillus test was 100% while the positive predictive value was 95.5%. Results also suggested that with approperiate training, counselors can adapt their counseling protocol to accomodate giving out same time/day results.
Conclusions: The capillus test produces a high predictive value for both HIV- and HIV+ results even under primitive field conditions. Provision of same time/day results can improve deliverly of HIV Testing services particularly in rural sites where services are scarce or lacking.
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