Figure 1.
Overall improvement in the interpretation accuracy for the three groups of participants.
Non-laboratory based personnel (n = 19), laboratory based and trained technical staff (n = 22) and a group of pathologists attending a national meeting (n = 34) interpreted photographed results of 10 samples in four rapid diagnostic tests (RDT, see Methods Section). Each participant read 10 results for each test then was given an ∼10 minute tutorial on how to read the tests accurately and each was supplied with manufacturers' instructions. Training improved interpretation accuracy for each participant group (non-parametric Chi-Square test, p<0.05 for all groups).
Figure 2.
Interpretation accuracy of four rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits by three groups of participants before and after training.
The table is divided into four quadrants by the level of participants' experience (inexperienced/experienced) and the difficulty of the RDT results (obvious/difficult). p<0.05 from non-parametric Chi Square analysis is considered as significant difference. Grey block indicated the significant differences between before and after training. Bolded numbers indicated significant differences between difficult and obvious results before training. # indicated significant differences between difficult and obvious results after training. ∧ indicated significant differences between inexperienced and experienced participants for obvious results. + indicated significant differences between inexperienced and experienced participants for difficult results.
Figure 3.
Possible types of result for two-line/dot HIV rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs).
RDTs from top to bottom are: Advance Quality, Determine and Insti. Typical results for reactive (A), non-reactive (B) and invalid sample results (C) as shown in manufacturers' instruction were considered "obvious". The results labeled D were considered "difficult" because of the presence of only a faint line/dot and because both lines/dots are not the same intensity.
Figure 4.
Possible results for the three-line SD Bioline HIV rapid diagnostic test (RDT) that presents indicator lines for control, HIV-2 and HIV-1.
HIV-1/2 positive (A), HIV-1 positive results (B, F & G), HIV-2 positive (C), HIV negative (D) and Invalid (E) results. A-E were considered "obvious" because the manufacturers' instruction illustrated these types of result. F & G are both HIV-1 positive and considered "difficult" because the correct interpretation required comparison of intensities for the middle and bottom lines (F), or the ability to see and interpret a faint line (top line, G).