Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W Oleszko

Publications and source records attributed to W Oleszko.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Pilot study of expedited HIV-1 testing of women in labor at an inner-city hospital in New York City.

To evaluate the feasibility of offering voluntary counseling and expedited human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing to women in labor, and to assess the characteristics of two rapid HIV assays compared with results from an expedited standard enzyme immunoassay (EIA), with Western blot confirmation, as indicated, we undertook a pilot study immediately prior to enactment of New York State regulations (August 1999) requiring expedited testing of laboring women (or newborns) with undocumented HIV status. From June 9, 1999 through July 2, 1999, we offered HIV counseling and testing (C&T) to all medically stable women in active labor, 106 of 125 (85%) of whom accepted. One woman was confirmed HIV-1 seropositive. Rapid assay sensitivity and specificity were: SUDS 100 and 98%, and Multispot 100 and 100%, respectively in comparison with 100 and 99% for the standard EIA. The positive predictive values (PPV) were SUDS 33%; Multispot 100%; and EIA 50%. While our sample size was small, it appears that the accuracy of rapid and expedited HIV assays may be improved by requiring two different reactive assays before informing women of HIV-seropositive results or initiating antiretroviral treatment.

Adolescent↗

Measures to decrease the risk of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome transmission by blood transfusion. Evidence of volunteer blood donor cooperation.

We studied whether volunteers giving blood to the Greater New York Blood Program (GNYBP) cooperated with procedures implementing public health recommendations intended to decrease the risk of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) transmission by blood transfusion. Predonation medical screening was expanded to exclude donors who might be ill with AIDS. To exclude possible asymptomatic carriers of the disease, members of groups at increased risk of AIDS were asked either not to give blood or to give it for laboratory studies. A confidential questionnaire, administered to all donors after medical screening, provided the vehicle for donors to advise the GNYBP whether their donation was for laboratory studies or for patient transfusion. We found that the number of male donors decreased; AIDS-related questions in medical history led to a 2 percent increase in donor rejections; 97 percent of donors said their blood could be used for transfusions; 1.4 percent said their blood could be used for laboratory studies only; and 1.6 percent did not respond. Only units designated for transfusion were released to hospitals. People who indicated that their donation was for laboratory studies had a higher prevalence of markers for hepatitis B virus and of antibodies to cytomegalovirus. White cell counts and helper/suppressor T lymphocyte ratios were not significantly different in the two groups. We conclude that volunteer donors have cooperated with the established procedures. None of the laboratory assays identified blood units donated by individuals who, based on information about AIDS high-risk groups, designated their donation for laboratory studies.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗