Skip to main content
Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology logoLink to Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology
. 1996 Nov;3(6):640–644. doi: 10.1128/cdli.3.6.640-644.1996

Comparison of saliva and serum for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 antibody testing in Uganda using a rapid recombinant assay.

R M Grant 1, E M Piwowar 1, E Katongole-Mbidde 1, W Muzawalu 1, S Rugera 1, J Abima 1, S L Stramer 1, P Kataaha 1, B Jackson 1
PMCID: PMC170424  PMID: 8914752

Abstract

The accuracy and acceptability of saliva human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antibody testing were compared with serum testing in a study of paired specimens from HIV-1-seropositive and HIV-1-seronegative Ugandan adults attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases. Saliva collection was performed with the Omni-sal device (Saliva Diagnostic Systems, Vancouver, Wash.), and antibody testing was performed by a rapid filter paper assay (Test-Pack; Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill.). Relative to serum testing, the sensitivity of saliva testing was 95% (195 of 205) and the specificity was 99% (295 of 297). The sensitivity of saliva testing was higher for patients with elevated levels of beta-2 microglobulin in sera and greater numbers of HIV-1-related symptoms. Pre- and poststudy interviews indicated that saliva testing did not foster inordinate fears of saliva exposure. The development of saliva tests that are inexpensive and do not require electricity is needed.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (179.1 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Behets F. M., Edidi B., Quinn T. C., Atikala L., Bishagara K., Nzila N., Laga M., Piot P., Ryder R. W., Brown C. C. Detection of salivary HIV-1-specific IgG antibodies in high-risk populations in Zaire. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 1991;4(2):183–187. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Berkley S., Weeks M., Barenzi J. Immunisation and fear of AIDS. Lancet. 1990 Jan 6;335(8680):47–48. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(90)90171-z. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Chamnanput J., Phanuphak P. Comparison of eight commercial test kits for detecting anti-HIV antibodies in saliva specimens. AIDS. 1993 Jul;7(7):1026–1026. doi: 10.1097/00002030-199307000-00026. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Connell J. A., Parry J. V., Mortimer P. P., Duncan J. Novel assay for the detection of immunoglobulin G antihuman immunodeficiency virus in untreated saliva and urine. J Med Virol. 1993 Oct;41(2):159–164. doi: 10.1002/jmv.1890410212. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Frerichs R. R., Htoon M. T., Eskes N., Lwin S. Comparison of saliva and serum for HIV surveillance in developing countries. Lancet. 1992 Dec 19;340(8834-8835):1496–1499. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(92)92755-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Frerichs R. R., Silarug N., Eskes N., Pagcharoenpol P., Rodklai A., Thangsupachai S., Wongba C. Saliva-based HIV-antibody testing in Thailand. AIDS. 1994 Jul;8(7):885–894. doi: 10.1097/00002030-199407000-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Holmström P., Syrjänen S., Laine P., Valle S. L., Suni J. HIV antibodies in whole saliva detected by ELISA and western blot assays. J Med Virol. 1990 Apr;30(4):245–248. doi: 10.1002/jmv.1890300403. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Major C. J., Read S. E., Coates R. A., Francis A., McLaughlin B. J., Millson M., Shepherd F., Fanning M., Calzavara L., MacFadden D. Comparison of saliva and blood for human immunodeficiency virus prevalence testing. J Infect Dis. 1991 Apr;163(4):699–702. doi: 10.1093/infdis/163.4.699. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Matsuda S., Oka S., Honda M., Takebe Y., Takemori T. Characteristics of IgA antibodies against HIV-1 in sera and saliva from HIV-seropositive individuals in different clinical stages. Scand J Immunol. 1993 Nov;38(5):428–434. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1993.tb02584.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. McKeganey N., Barnard M., Leyland A., Coote I., Follet E. Female streetworking prostitution and HIV infection in Glasgow. BMJ. 1992 Oct 3;305(6857):801–804. doi: 10.1136/bmj.305.6857.801. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Piazza M., Chirianni A., Picciotto L., Cataldo P. T., Borgia G., Orlando R. Blood in saliva of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: possible implication in sexual transmission of the disease. J Med Virol. 1994 Jan;42(1):38–41. doi: 10.1002/jmv.1890420108. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Piwowar E. M., Tugume S. B., Grant R. M., Lutalo T., Pattishall K., Katongole-Mbidde E. beta-2 Microglobulin values among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative, HIV-positive asymptomatic, and HIV-positive symptomatic Ugandans. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 1995 Mar;2(2):236–237. doi: 10.1128/cdli.2.2.236-237.1995. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Sun D., Archibald D. W., Furth P. A. Variation of secretory antibodies in parotid saliva to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 with HIV-1 disease stage. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1990 Jul;6(7):933–941. doi: 10.1089/aid.1990.6.933. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES