ISSN: 2639-2038
Authors: Nasir EF*
Introduction: till date, HIV infection is still a major health concern. Knowledge of someone’s serologic status is important and required for the appropriate provision of services and intervention, and expansion of rapid testing will reduce risk-behaviors and facilitate the prophylaxis of the opportunistic infections. There is a distinguished role of dentistry to lead this issue of optout testing. Objective: This study was to assess the prevalence of HIV-infection among a group of Sudanese dental patients in using two different assays for saliva (Bionor and OraQuick advance). Methodology: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted in two phases. First 977 patients were recruited from the outpatients in two dental teaching hospitals (KDTH and UST) in Khartoum state (females 57.6 %, mean age 31, SD ±8.7 years) using Bionor test. The second phase was implemented in May 2009 including 150 patients (50.7% males, mean age 34.4, SD ±11.7 years) recruited from the UST using OraQuick assay. Results: This is the first study to assess the prevalence of HIV-infection among dental patients in Sudan. Saliva samples with Bionor were all negative, yielding a prevalence of 0%. The second phase three samples were reactive, yielding a prevalence of 2%. Conclusion: Rapid testing has its multiple advantages that are to be considered and advocated for. The dentistry role in promoting rapid testing and patients screening protocol is highly recommended for infectious diseases and epidemics. OraQuick is a valuable and practical procedure to be used in patients screening in opt-out setting. The results obtained may reflect the real situation of HIV-infection among the study-population.
Keywords: HIV; Saliva; Rapid-Testing; Dental; Sudan
