"Reporting the Results of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing"

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1989. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

"Reporting the Results of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing"

Journal of the American Medical Association (12/29/89) Vol. 262, No. 24, P. 3435
Benenson, Abram S., et al.

Abstract: Researchers from San Diego State University report that actual laboratory results of HIV testing from different California labs were erroneous, incomplete, contained misleading and confusing information, or compromised the value of the testing process and might have led to improper treatment. Using blind proficiency testing, the researchers sent sets of three serum samples of known status --one negative sample, one positive sample, and one that gave false-positive results--as routine patient specimens to several labs. Half the labs reported the positive sample as "indeterminate" and one rendered a final positive report without supplemental testing. Researchers Benenson and colleagues conclude that the reports have the potential to confuse the requesting physician and that standardized criteria are needed for testing, interpretation, and reporting of results.

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