Indeterminate HIV PCR results within South Africa's early infant diagnosis programme, 2010-2019

Objectives: We describe the extent of, and variables associated with, indeterminate HIV-PCR results and final HIV status within South Africa's early infant diagnosis (EID) programme between 2010 and 2019. Methods: Retrospective analysis of routine paediatric HIV-PCR laboratory data from South Africa's National Health Laboratory Service Data Warehouse between 2010 and 2019. Final HIV status was determined by linking patient results (including HIV-PCR, HIV viral load, HIV serology and CD4 counts) using a probabilistic matching algorithm. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine variables associated with final HIV status among patients with an indeterminate HIV-PCR result. Results: Among 4 429 742 specimens registered for HIV-PCR testing from 3 816 166 patients, 113 209 (2.97%) tested positive and 22 899 (0.6%) tested indeterminate. As a proportion of HIV-detected results, 15.7% (23 896/151 832) of total and 31.5% (4900/15 566), 18.8% (11 400/60 794) and 10.1% (7596/75 472) among patients aged <7 days, 7 days-3 months and >= 3 months, respectively, were reported as indeterminate. Overall, 39.7% of patients with an indeterminate result had a linked HIV test to determine HIV status, of which 53.6% were positive with a median time to repeat testing of 30 days (interquartile range 15-69). Among patients who tested indeterminate, variables associated with a significantly higher odds of having a positive HIV status included testing indeterminate at birth (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.63 (0.48-0.83) and 0.52 (0.39-0.69) for testing indeterminate at 7 days-3 months and >= 3 months respectively compared with birth), within a hospital (AOR 2.45 (1.99-3.03)), and in districts with an intra-uterine transmission rate >= 1.1% (AOR 3.14 (1.84-5.35)) (p < 0.001). Discussion: Indeterminate HIV-PCR results represent a considerable burden of missed diagnostic opportunities, diagnostic dilemmas and delays in making a definite diagnosis among HIV-infected infants within South Africa's EID programme. Alternative EID verification practices are urgently needed. (C) 2021 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study describes the extent and variables associated with indeterminate HIV-PCR results and final HIV status in South Africa's early infant diagnosis program. The study found that missed diagnostic opportunities, diagnostic dilemmas, and delays in making a definite diagnosis are significant burdens for HIV-infected infants.