Mumbai: ELISA Kits Inaccurate, NAT Needed in Blood Banks

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ELISA kits inaccurate, NAT needed, say blood bank officials

Pritha Chatterjee Tags : health, hiv aids, nat Posted: Wed Sep 01 2010,

HIV tests using ELISA kits, with third-generation technology, sent to all blood

banks in the state are giving wrong results, blood bank officials say.

Experts are now considering the more accurate Nucleic Acid Test (NAT). The

Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS) is already in the process of trying

to incorporate NAT.

" The kits are problematic. After we got contradictory results in the same

patients in consecutive tests, we started testing samples at least 3-4 times

before declaring HIV results, " said an MDACS officer at the government-run St

Hospital.

" We have had to change reports of 5-6 patients in August, " said an RMO from the

hospital.

Dr Yogini Patel, who is in charge of blood transfusion, Mumbai District Aids

Control Society, said, " In about two months, we received 20-25 reports of

inconsistency in tests using these new kits. We will review the technology

before sending the next batch. "

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ELISA-kits-inaccurate--NAT-needed--say-blood-b\

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