Shedding light on HIV tests

I WISH to shed some light on HIV tests used in PNG.
There are two tests, one is called an Elisa test while the other is called a Western blot.
Elisa is only for screening. If it shows up negative, no further testing is required.
If positive, then a second test – Western blot – will be done to confirm the result.
The Western blot test criteria for an individual to be confirmed HIV positive is different for different countries.
For example, our criteria differs from Australia’s.
Also, some countries like Britain have stopped using the test since 1992.
Therefore, a person who is tested positive for HIV in PNG and does not has clinical AIDS, is technically not positive in Australia.
This makes the issue of whether HIV positive individuals in PNG should be allowed to enter Australia more tricky.
 
Dr Rodney Itaki
Kagawa University Japan

Journey to Paradise

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