[Estimation on the HIV-1 incidence among high risk groups using the pooling RNA technique].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To timely identify the HIV-1 infection in window-period and to estimate the HIV-1 incidence among people who came for voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) service as well as men who have sex with men (MSM), respectively. METHODS: HIV antibody negative samples that were determined by screening tests between January and October 2012, were collected and tested with pooling HIV-1 RNA testing technique (2-staged pooling by 501, 101). Positive cases were followed-up for HIV antibody testing while HIV incidence was calculated under Ron Brookmeyer' s method, among VCT and MSM populations. RESULTS: Among 1400 HIV antibody negative samples of VCT, two showed HIV-1 RNA positive during the antibody window period with the HIV-1 incidence as 1.87% per year (95% CI 1.23%-2.65% ). Among 500 HIV antibody negative samples from MSM population, two showed HIV-1 RNA positive in the antibody window period, with HIV-1 incidence as 5.31% per year (95% CI 3.52%-7.45% ). CONCLUSION: Pooling HIV-1 RNA testing seemed a powerful tool for HIV antibody testing in the window-period. Measures should be taken to strengthen the HIV diagnostic programs among MSM and other high risk groups,during the HIV antibody window-period. More frequent detection approach as pooling HIV-1 RNA testing might be a good choice.