A clinician wants to diagnose a neonate born from an HIV-infected mother. The birth attending clinician collects blood sample and send it to a laboratory. The laboratory technologist performed rapid serological (antibody) test and the result was positive. What is the most appropriate next step in the diagnosis of this infant? a. Collecting another sample for RT-PCR b. Reporting the result as positive c. Repeating the test by another serologic test d. Reporting the result as indeterminate
The most appropriate next step in the diagnosis of this infant would be a. Collecting another sample for RT-PCR. The reason for this is that a positive result on a rapid serological test only indicates the presence of HIV antibodies in the blood but cannot determine whether the infant is actually infected with HIV. RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a more sensitive and specific test that can directly detect the presence of HIV RNA in the infant's blood, thus confirming the infection.
