Cohort study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing among patients receiving long-term dialysis at a university hospital

B. Lynn Johnston, C. Lynn Poole, Denise R. Zito, Dayld E. Normansell, Frederic B. Westervelt, Barry M. Farr

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)235-240
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control
Volume16
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 1988
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Health Policy
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cohort study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing among patients receiving long-term dialysis at a university hospital'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this