How many bloods will a 'HIVCHEK' check? Multiple tests for HIV antibody for a single screening kit

Blood transfusion in developing countries: problems, priorities and practicalities

The acute medical services could not exist without blood transfusions--life-savers in many situations. But transfusions can also be a quick and easy route for the transmission of infectious agents such as HIV, HBV, HCV and malaria. Infection through blood supply is a major issue in all countries but particularly in those with economic constraints which limit safety. This study was carried out in India (March-May 1997) and involved centres in Delhi, Calcutta and Vellore. It examined many aspects of blood transfusion including donor screening, use of professional donors, blood testing and criteria for blood use. The many problems in Indian blood transfusion services are mirrored in other countries. Here we examine the problems, priorities and practicalities of blood transfusion particularly in developing countries.

Evaluation of performance of reused HIVCHEK 1 + 2 test blocks which have shown negative result: a reliable method for rural hospital?

The performance of the reusing of test membranes which have been used previously for negative tests for the detection of antibody to HIV (HIVCHEK 1 + 2 of Ortho Diagnostic Systems, Paris, France) was evaluated under field conditions. The sensitivity and specificity of the reusing strategy compared with a HIV determination obtained by using new HIVCHECK 1 + 2 tests were 89.1% and 100%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 100% and the negative predictive value was 91.5%. The authors conclude that the reduction in sensitivity of the reusing strategy in comparison with the use of new tests makes this strategy ethically unacceptable for the detection of HIV infection in blood donors. On the other hand, the reusing strategy could be very useful for diagnostic purpose and for epidemiological HIV surveillance in resource-poor countries.

How to do it. Participate in an international conference

Attending an international conference should be instructive and fun. But it can also be alarming and lonely. Although participating in scientific conferences is now almost essential to medical career development, no medical school describes how to make the most of the opportunity as part of its curriculum. Here are some hints on how to get yourself organised so that the experience can be both scientifically productive and enjoyable. In essence, you should travel, see places, meet people, make friends, and identify one or two ideas that you can apply in your own work or research.