If the HIV test is cut, it will falsify the test result

The HIV test strip is coated with minerals to quickly test the specific virus. The cut in half causes the antibody concentration to decrease, affecting the result.

This is the opinion of a doctor who does not want to be named and works at Bach Mai Hospital. According to this doctor, the structure of the rapid test strip has horizontal lines, on which are coated with antibodies including labeled antibody, primary antibody, secondary antibody.

"Integrity test strips, the full concentration of antibodies ensure high accuracy test results. With longitudinally cut test strips, antibody concentration will be halved making the results of the test accurate. test results also decreased, "the doctor said.

Graphics: Creative Diagnostic

Master, doctor Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Head of Department of General Medicine, Hospital 09, also had the same opinion. Hospital 09 is a voluntary drug detoxification center specialized in treating and treating terminally ill HIV / AIDS patients. Dr. Hung said that the process of testing HIV with biological products should ensure that in principle, the screening products are highly sensitive and specific.

"The conclusions of the test results have not been conclusively determined if a test stick is cut, but the act of cutting the test strip is a violation of the medical and physician's rules," Dr. Hung said.

Associate professor, Dr. Nguyen Nghiem Luat, former Dean of the Department of Biochemistry, Hanoi Medical University, said: "To make a test stick, manufacturers had to weigh, test to thousands, tens of thousands new samples with results ".

Experts believe that the technology for testing infectious diseases, especially HIV and hepatitis B, has made remarkable progress . Rapid test, also known as "rapid test," is considered to be simple, easy to perform and highly accurate. Ora Quick HIV-1/2 HIV test strips are 99% sensitive, 100% specific.

According to Dr. Hung, the doctor used to diagnose the disease based on clinical symptoms, but now based on subclinical factors such as test results, imaging, functional exploration. When the test results are correct, the doctor must make a preliminary diagnosis in the right direction before making a final conclusion.

In fact, the test strips have a certain probability of false negative and false positive. For example, insufficient drug content in urine is not enough to display pathological color indication, making the doctor unable to detect the condition. Or, high sensitivity test strips can lead to false positive results due to the patient using similar stimulants.

Therefore, using the results of HIV rapid test strips is meant for screening and initial evaluation so that the doctor chooses to send patients to the treatment group, monitor or conduct other tests rather than the final decision. and. Particularly patients suspected of infection, doctors must conduct tests 2-3 times to compare at different times. Medical personnel, when performing the testing process, must ensure that it is in accordance with the manufacturer's regulations and standards, avoiding misdiagnosis for patients, causing serious consequences.