engleski

Is Point-of-Care Testing a Useful Tool for the Prevention of HIV Infections?

OBJECTIVE: The Point-of-Care (POC) tests could be defined as diagnostic tests performed at or near the site where medical care is delivered. POC tests have numerous applications in diagnostic medicine, including the field of infectious diseases diagnosis and prevention. This presentation is aimed to describe the technical background of POC tests and to discuss their use in the diagnosis of infectious diseases, especially HIV. METHODOLOGY: The presentation is made by reviewing recently published articles regarding the use of POC tests in diagnosis and prevention of communicable diseases including HIV. RESULTS: Numerous POC tests for the diagnosis of infectious diseases are commercially available today. Their main advantages are that they are easy to operate, may be used outside specialized diagnostic facilities and by personnel that have no special experiences. Most of commercial POC tests rely on the enzyme immune assay (EIA) principle. Some of them are considered equivalent with standard laboratory performed procedures. CONCLUSIONS: POC tests for HIV infection today may be considered as an alternative to conventional laboratory screening tests. POC tests may be used in regions with poor laboratory access and for patients that are difficult to reach. They could therefore be considered as a useful tool for the prevention of HIV infections also.

POC testing; HIV; prevention

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