The world has witnessed an alarming increase in the prevalence of infectious diseases in recent years, emphasising the pressing need for better monitoring and control measures to mitigate their devastating impact.
To address this issue, a team of researchers at Qatar University (QU) have conducted a comprehensive study on the efficiency of screening and diagnostic testing protocols followed by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) labs for two major infectious diseases - human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis.
The findings of this study were published in an article titled ‘Screening and Diagnostic Testing Protocols for HIV and Syphilis Infections in Health Care Setting in Qatar: Evaluation and Recommendations.’
The Medical Commission (MC) in Qatar is responsible for testing newcomers and expatriates for infectious diseases such as HIV and syphilis to ensure that they are not brought into the country without proper management. Researchers conducted a study to evaluate the accuracy of the current testing protocol used by the MC for HIV and syphilis.
The research study, led by Dr. Gheyath Nasrallah, an Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences at QU’s College of Health Sciences, studied the lab that tested a large cohort number which involved 585,587 people screened at the MC laboratory in 2019.
The study found that the current protocol used by the MC for HIV and syphilis testing is very accurate and sensitive, minimising the risk of missing false negative samples. However, the cost-effectiveness of the current protocol, particularly for HIV, is questionable due to the high occurrence of false positive results and the high occurrence of indeterminate results from the currently used confirmatory assays.
The researchers recommended practical improvements to the screening and diagnostic protocols for HIV and syphilis, by improving and implementing better and alternative screening and confirmation assays and methods.
The study focused on improving the efficiency of the screening and diagnostic protocols for HIV and syphilis Ministry of Health labs in Qatar.
Dr. Nasrallah said: “Efficiency in laboratory solutions, accuracy in assay selection, and cost-effectiveness in protocols are the pillars of service to the community in Qatar. Let us strive to select the best for our people, for that is the true measure of our commitment to their health and well-being.”
The students’ contributions were integral to the research process, including data collection, analysis, interpretation, and manuscript preparation. Nadin Younes, PhD student in the Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences programme at QU Health; Duaa A Sadeq, PhD student in Medical Sciences at QU’s College of Medicine; and Raniya Al Buainain, MSc graduate from the Biomedical science programme at QU’s College of Health Sciences, were among those who worked on the study.
“Through this study, we have shown that using reliable screening tests and confirmatory tests for HIV and syphilis diagnosis ensure patients receive accurate information about their health status.
“This does not only benefit the patients but also contributes to the prevention and control of these diseases in the community. Improving screening protocols based on these findings can save lives and reduce healthcare costs,” Younes said.
Despite the high sensitivity of current testing, the protocols often yield numerous indeterminate results, leading to a time-consuming and maybe less cost-effective process.
To address the limitations of current screening protocols, Dr. Gheyath’s lab and collaborators are currently evaluating the efficacy of alternative screening and confirmatory assays for HIV from multiple different manufacturers.
The study’s findings are important for policymakers and healthcare providers to consider when providing high-quality and efficient care. The results can help improve screening protocols in Qatar and other countries, preventing the spread of serious infectious diseases.
The main financiers of this study were the Qatar University Internal Student Grant Program. In addition, several other organizations within Qatar provided support, including the Medical Commission at MoPH and Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar (WCMQ). The contributions of these organizations were instrumental in the success of the study.
