Comparison of Amplicor HIV-1 DNA Test version 1.5 and Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 Qual test PCR assays for the diagnosis of HIV among HIV expose...

Abstract

In Kenya PCR solutions are available for HIV diagnosis. However few studies have evaluated existing HIV diagnosis and determined the prevalence of HIV infection in infants resident in disease endemic regions of western Kenya. Therefore the objectives of this study were to compare the HIV outcomes of Roche Amplicor HIV-1 DNA Test version 1.5 (Amplicor) and Roche Cobas AmpliPrep/CobasTaqman HIV-1 Qual test (Cobas) PCR assays and evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the Cobas assay against Amplicor in infants. We also determined the prevalence of HIV infection among infants aged= 18 months born to HIV-infected mothers. Methods: In a cross-sectional study dried blood spot samples were collected from infants (n= 792) aged between 2 weeks to 18 months old visiting selected health facilities in Western Province Kenya for a period of 2 years (2010 and …