Evaluation of SD Bioline HIV/syphilis Duo rapid test kits in Nepal

Abstract

BackgroundAccurate and prompt diagnosis of HIV and syphilis simultaneously has reinforcing effect on their control program because of their prevalent co-infection. Availability of a simple user-friendly two-pronged and affordable detection tools brings down the cost of health care. They are important in the antenatal clinics, with added opportunity for intervention and prevention of mother to child transmission. In cooperation with rapid test kit manufacturers, SD Bioline, NPHL and NCASC, an evaluation of commercially available HIV/syphilis Duo rapid test kit (SD Bioline) to assess its performance and operational characteristics was done in the present study.MethodA prospective laboratory-based cross sectional study was conducted at a large Women’s Hospital. Ten thousand pregnant women, visiting the Hospital for antenatal care or for delivery, were enrolled in study. Tests were performed by the SD Bioline HIV/Syphilis Duo kit as well as national algorithm for HIV and syphilis diagnosis which were considered gold standard. Sensitivity, Specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value along with kappa coefficient were calculated for the kit under evaluation.ResultThe sensitivity, specificity, Negative predictive value and Positive predictive value of the kit for HIV diagnosis were 100 % (95 % CI 83.18–100 %, 99.96–100 %, 83.18–100 %, and 99.96–100 %, respectively). Kappa value was found to be 1.0. Out of total cases, results of 9985 (99.85 %) cases were concordant with National algorithm for syphilis diagnosis. Thirteen (0.13 %) cases were found false positive while two were false negative. The sensitivity of the kit for syphilis diagnosis was found to be 95.45 % (95 % CI 84.86–98.74 %) and specificity was 99.87 % (95 % CI; 99.78–99.92 %). Positive predictive value was 76.36 % (95 % CI; 63.65–85.63 %) and Negative predictive value was 99.89 % (95 % CI; 99.39–99.99 %). Kappa value was found to be 0.85.ConclusionThe performance characteristics of SD Bioline HIV/Syphilis duo kit were found almost concordant with the kits being used for HIV and Syphilis diagnosis separately. Its implementation in antenatal clinics/VCTs could be an added opportunity for simultaneous diagnosis of HIV and syphilis.

Acceptability of dual HIV/syphilis rapid test in community- and home-based testing strategy among transgender women in Buenos Aires, Argentina

“…In line with other studies with dual HIV/syphilis rapid test, [20][21][22][23][24]27 our study proved that this rapid test was feasible and highly acceptable among TGW. Almost all TGW (96.6%) would be willing to repeat it, and 98.8% were satisfied/very satisfied with the community-and home-based rapid test strategy.…”

Expanding syphilis testing: a scoping review of syphilis testing interventions among key populations

“…dual testing), given their similar transmission routes. The feasibility of introducing dual POC testing has been tested in a wide variety of settings: STI clinic attendees in the US 27 , pregnant women in rural Uganda 28 and Nepal 29 , MSM and transgender women in Peru 30 , and female sex workers (FSW) in Johannesburg 31 . Dual POC testing is accurate 32,33 and cost-effective among pregnant women compared to single rapid diagnostic test 34 .…”

Laboratory evaluation of four HIV/syphilis rapid diagnostic tests

“…SD Bioline previous laboratory evaluations: references [5, 7, 12–14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24]; SD Bioline previous field evaluations: references [8, 11, 15]; DPP previous laboratory evaluations: references [5, 17–19, 23]; Multiplo previous laboratory evaluations: references [5, 6, 17, 23]; Multiplo previous field evaluations: reference [10]; Insti previous laboratory evaluation: reference [9] NA Not available a range from lowest obtained sensitivity or specificity to highest…”