Rapid human immunodeficiency virus testing in obstetric outpatient settings: the MIRIAD study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of rapid human immunodeficiency virus testing in obstetric outpatient settings.

Study design: The Mother-Infant Rapid Intervention at Delivery (MIRIAD) study was a prospective, multicenter study. Women were offered rapid and conventional human immunodeficiency virus testing if they presented to outpatient settings late in pregnancy with undocumented human immunodeficiency virus status. We compared median times between conventional and rapid testing and between rapid point-of-care and rapid laboratory-based testing.

Results: Among eligible women who were offered participation, 90% accepted testing. The median time from blood draw to result available was faster for rapid testing (25 minutes) than conventional testing (23 hours; P < .0001). For rapid tests, point-of-care testing was faster than laboratory-based testing (24 minutes vs 35 minutes; P < .0001). Almost 96% of rapid test results were available within 1 hour.

Conclusion: Rapid human immunodeficiency virus testing is acceptable, feasible, and provides results far sooner than conventional testing in obstetric outpatient settings.