Dual Path Platform HIV 1/2 assay: evaluation of a novel rapid test using oral fluids for HIV screening at the National Hospital in Abuja, Nigeria

HIV/AIDS disease is endemic in Nigeria and associated with stigmatization. Availability of a reliable rapid testing kit and procedure will increase uptake of services. The study aimed to determine the correlation between detection of HIV antibodies in blood to that in oral fluid and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Dual Path Platform (DPP) testing kit using oral fluid samples. HIV antibodies detected in oral mucosa transudate and whole capillary blood from HIV-positive, high-risk and low-risk participants were compared with results obtained with whole venous blood from the same participants tested with Determine and Western blot (for discordant cases). Oral fluid test has sensitivity and specificity of 100% relative to Determine rapid assay, while whole capillary blood test has sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 99.5%. DPP oral fluid test is a reliable point-of-care test and may be deployed in large-scale screening exercises.