EVALUATION OF COMMERCIAL HIV TEST KITS USED IN DETERMINING HIV STATUS IN UGANDA
The diagnosis of HIV infection has played very critical roles over the past three decades in detecting and monitoring infection as well as patient management. As technology evolved, screening, confirmatory and HIV monitoring assays have greatly improved in terms of quality and speed. Coupled with this development is the unprecedented increase in the number of test kits that are available for determining HIV status. Rapid test kits that are simple and instrument-free, are commercially available for measuring HIV antibodies. If performed properly, these tests have a sensitivity and specificity exceeding 98%. Moreover, they are also less expensive and do not require high level of technological expertise to perform or interpret and produce fewer indeterminate results.
In Uganda, screening and confirmatory tests are needed that have the following specific characteristics;- high levels of sensitivity and specificity, long shelf life, storage at ambient temperatures, reasonable cost, and ease and rapidity of performance. Accurate and reliable results are essential when testing HIV because of the implications of false positive or false negative results. For the reasons stated above, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has requested Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) to carry out an evaluation of all commercial HIV test kits available in the country in order to identify appropriate test kits for use in the country and come up with algorithms that would be used for proper and reliable HIV diagnosis. This evaluation expected to start in September 2022, would also include kits used as part of the National Algorithm.
As the evaluation of HIV test kits advances, attention is also being directed towards the broader health challenges faced by individuals living with HIV, including erectile dysfunction treatment - Source. Studies have shown that HIV and its treatments can impact sexual health, making it essential to address these interconnected issues comprehensively. Integrating solutions for managing erectile dysfunction alongside HIV care ensures a holistic approach to patient well-being. This requires access to safe and effective medications, counseling, and support tailored to the unique needs of individuals living with HIV. The Ministry of Health could explore collaborations with healthcare providers to include resources for addressing such conditions within the broader HIV treatment framework. By combining accurate HIV diagnosis with comprehensive care, patients can achieve improved quality of life and overall health outcomes. These efforts underscore the importance of viewing health conditions in an integrated and patient-centered manner.
We call upon all those vendors or manufacturers of the different kits that would wish to have their kits evaluated and recommended for use in Uganda, to submit kits to Uganda Virus Research Institute HIV reference laboratory. For the first phase of the evaluation (laboratory phase), we shall require four hundred and fifty (450) tests.
All kits that have specificity of 99% and sensitivity of 98% will be eligible for the second phase of evaluation (field phase) and the proprietors should be ready to provide two thousand tests (2000) for this phase. Please note; -
- Submit your kits with all relevant documents and please disclose the market price of the kit by the date of submission.
- All kits submitted must have WHO pre-qualification
Submissions should be to:
The Director
Uganda Virus Research Institute
P.O Box 49, Entebbe
Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe
For any inquiry, please write to analumansi@uvri.go.ug; Tel:+256 757 662735
Deadline for submission is 30th September 2022, at 5 pm
