Verevochkin S, Skadova V, Kurbatova T, Kozlova O, Kozlov A; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12; 11: 463 (abstract no. Pub.C.1155).
Biomedical Center for AIDS, Cancer and Related Problems, Research Institute of Pure Biochemicals, St. Petersburg, Russia. Fax: 7-(812)-230-4948. E-mail: HIVAIDS@mod.hpb.spb ru.
Objectives:To establish an external quality control program for HIV screening in Russia and the other NIS. Methods: Several hundred coded sera panels were prepared. They included high-positive, weakly-positive, seroconversion and negative samples. Sera panels were distributed among screening labs and/or regional AIDS centers from Russia and Newly Independent States. The results of the analyses of coded sera panels in screening labs were analyzed, and the information about the fidelity of their answers was returned to the laboratories and was discussed at the workshops and conferences. Results: An external quality control program was started in Russia by our laboratory and Association against HIV/AIDS after the first international conference on "AIDS, Cancer and Human Retroviruses" in St.Petersburg (November, 1992). Since then six types of coded sera panels was analyzed in screening labs. More then 250 labs from 33 regional centers have participated in this program to date. About 80 per cent of all the tests have been performed with test-systems based on recombinant antigens. Positive sera reactivity was 89% and negative sera reactivity was 99%. Reproducibility of analyses was 93%. The HIV kits of the same design and based on the same antigens, but produced by different Russian manufacturers had shown different levels of reactivity. Conclusions: The results point out that reported low HIV prevalence in Russia is not a consequence of bad laboratory practice but reflects the real epidemiological situation. The quality of testing in the screening labs is reasonably high. The increase in quality of testing was observed in the course of the program.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Laboratories
- Research
- Russia
- organization & administration
Other ID:
UI: 102221501
From Meeting Abstracts