False-Positive Rapid HIV Assays in Two Adolescents With Newly Diagnosed Autoimmune Disorders

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend that clinicians include HIV screening as a routine test for adolescents and adults aged 15 to 65 years. Rapid tests have proven sensitivity and specificity of 99 percent, similar to ELISA. Disadvantages of rapid testing include false-negative and false-positive results. In these cases, two adolescents with undiagnosed autoimmune illnesses were found to have false positive rapid HIV tests.