Evaluation of Dry Blood Spot for Detection of Hiv1 Using Rapid Tests

At the end of 2010, an estimated 34 million people were living with HIV worldwide, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most heavily affected by HIV, bout 68% of all people living with HIV resided in it. Simple robust approaches are needed to monitor the prevalence and incidence of HIV in Africa. The collection of dried blood spots (DBS) on filter paper provides a powerful approach for the development of large-scale, population-based screening programs. DBS methods are particularly valuable in developing countries and isolated rural regions where resources are limited. Large numbers of field specimens can be economically collected and shipped to centralized reference laboratories for molecular and (or) serological analysis.