Abstract
In a longitudinal study to determine the seroprevalence of antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the natural history of a positive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) result we followed a cohort of 98 patients receiving long-term dialysis. Eight patients (8.2%) in the cohort had a positive EIA and a negative Western blot test result. The EIA-positive results of all patients seroconverted to negative during follow-up. No illness suggestive of HIV infection developed in any of the patients. Significantly associated with a false positive EIA were prior renal transplantation, transfusions during the months just before the positive EIA result, and a greater number of lifetime transfusions before the positive test result. We confirm that routine HIV screening of patients receiving long-term dialysis is associated with a high rate of false positive EIA results and conclude that such testing is unnecessary in the absence of established risk factors for HIV infection.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 235-240 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | American Journal of Infection Control |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 1988 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Epidemiology
- Health Policy
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article