CAP Pro Course - Immunology - Qualitative HIV Testing

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Author: Andrea Gordon, M.Ed., MT(ASCP)SH
Reviewers: Kevin F. Foley, PhD, DABCC, MT, SC
and Laurie Bjerklie, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM

Continuing Education Credits

Objectives

  • Describe the types of tests used in HIV screening and how they work.
  • Describe the follow-up testing used to confirm and monitor HIV testing.
  • Discuss diagnostic algorithms and reporting concerns pertinent to HIV testing.
  • Outline the quality control program needed and the materials required for HIV testing.

Course Outline

  • Describe the types of tests used in HIV screening and how they work.
      • Human Immunodeficiency Virus
      • HIV Infection
      • Testing for HIV
      • Types of Immunoassays
      • Evolution of HIV Testing
      • A hand-held test system had absorbent material impregnated with colloidal particles that are attached to HIV antigens. A sample was added as a visible...
      • HIV specifically targets T-helper cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. What laboratory assay is based on this feature to determine HIV infections ...
      • A 35-year-old man from Nigeria has been in the United States for six months on a working visa. He has concerns that he may have contracted HIV. A seco...
      • A 24-year-old female patient was concerned that she may have contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI) from her ex-boyfriend. They had broken ...
      • A 30-year-old male patient was visiting his physician for a routine physical examination. Routine blood work was ordered that included screening for H...
  • Describe the follow-up testing used to confirm and monitor HIV testing.
      • Follow-Up Testing
      • No More Western Blots
      • Status of Available Tests
      • Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT)
      • A medical laboratory sciences student is being trained in the immunology laboratory. He has just completed a run of HIV tests using a fourth-generatio...
      • A lateral flow assay is used to determine the presence of HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies. The image shown represents four samples and one positive control...
      • Initial testing in a full-service laboratory was performed using a fourth-generation automated assay. Controls fell within established limits. Reflex ...
      • NAT is the recommended procedure when there are conflicting findings using screening methods. Under what circumstances might NAT results be unreliable...
      • Which of the following is a recommendation made by the CDC regarding HIV screening?
      • A 32-year-old male patient has requested an HIV workup because he had recently had sexual relations with a partner known to be positive. The first tes...
  • Discuss diagnostic algorithms and reporting concerns pertinent to HIV testing.
      • Algorithms for Testing
      • Discrepant Results
      • Monitoring HIV
      • Rapid HIV
      • A laboratory is considering the implementation of an assay to verify fourth-generation HIV screening tests that are inconclusive. Which of the followi...
      • A phlebotomist working at a physician's office has an accidental needle stick while collecting blood from a 25-year-old female patient. A rapid HIV an...
      • A negative result using a fourth generation test is obtained when screening for HIV. What is the next step?
      • A 45-year-old male patient was diagnosed with HIV three years ago. He is regularly monitored for CD4+ counts to determine the effectiveness of his tre...
      • A new full-service laboratory is establishing an algorithm for HIV reflex testing. If the initial test is done using an HIV-1/2 antigen/antibody combi...
  • Outline the quality control program needed and the materials required for HIV testing.
      • Quality Control
      • Controls for HIV Tests
      • Quality Assurance
      • Due to staffing shortages, T.D. was responsible for overseeing several workstations. A run of 100 samples was completed using a fully automated fourth...
      • Which of these practices represents the best practice for HIV specimen processing?
      • A technologist tests positive and negative controls for an HIV immunoassay along with several patient samples. The negative control for the assay was ...
      • The top figure on the right represents a rapid HIV antibody test device and illustrates the areas on the cartridge membrane that are used in interpret...
      • The figure shows a whole blood rapid HIV test. Which is true concerning the test devices labeled 1 and 2?
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Intended Audience: This program is designed as an educational and training tool for MLS, MT, and MLT personnel, medical laboratory science students and interns, pathology residents, and practicing pathologists.
Author: Andrea G. Gordon, M.Ed, MT(ASCP), SH has over 25 years of experience as a Program Director for various laboratory science programs. She has approximately 5 years experience as an administrator in higher education as a VP and Director of Education. Additionally, she has over 15 years of experience as a volunteer for NAACLS.
Reviewer Information: Kevin F. Foley, PhD, DABCC, MT, SC is the director of clinical pathology for the Kaiser Permanente Northwest region. He also teaches clinical chemistry at Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Foley earned his PhD in clinical pharmacology and toxicology at East Carolina School of Medicine in North Carolina.
Reviewer Information: Laurie Bjerklie, M.A., MLS(ASCP)CM is currently a Content Developer for MediaLab and LabCE. She earned a B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science from the University of North Dakota and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Saint Xavier University. She has over 14 years of experience in higher education and has held faculty positions in both MLT and MLS programs. She most recently served as the Program Manager of Medical Laboratory Science at Saint Louis University.

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