Khalid Tawalbeh
Doha
In a groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from Qatar University, the efficiency of screening and diagnostic testing protocols for two major infectious diseases, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and syphilis, were evaluated within Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health labs.
The findings of the study, published under the title ‘Screening and Diagnostic Testing Protocols for HIV and Syphilis Infections in Health Care Setting in Qatar: Evaluation and Recommendations’, shed light on the current methods of detection and provide crucial recommendations for improving healthcare services.
The study, led by Dr Gheyath Nasrallah, Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Qatar University’s College of Health Sciences, focused on assessing the accuracy of the testing protocol used by the Medical Commission (MC) in Qatar.
The MC is responsible for screening newcomers and expatriates for infectious diseases and ensuring proper management and control.
Analysing a large cohort of 585,587 individuals screened at the MC laboratory in 2019, the research study revealed that the current testing protocol for HIV and syphilis is highly accurate and sensitive, effectively minimising the risk of false negative results.
However, concerns were raised regarding the cost-effectiveness of the protocol, particularly for HIV, due to a significant occurrence of false positive results and indeterminate outcomes from confirmatory assays.
Based on their findings, the researchers recommended practical improvements to the screening and diagnostic protocols for HIV and syphilis, emphasising the need for better and alternative screening and confirmation assays.
The objective is to enhance efficiency while maintaining accuracy and cost-effectiveness in providing healthcare services to the community.
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 contributions of the research team’s members, including Nadin Younes, a PhD student in the Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences programme, Duaa Al-Sadeq, a PhD student in Medical Sciences, and Raniya Al Buainain, an MSc graduate from the Biomedical Science programme, were integral to the study’s success.
These dedicated individuals played a vital role in data collection, analysis, interpretation and manuscript preparation.
Nadin Younes emphasised the importance of reliable screening and confirmatory tests in ensuring accurate health status information for patients.
Not only does this benefit individual patients, but it also contributes to disease prevention and control within the community. Improving screening protocols based on these findings has the potential to save lives and reduce healthcare costs.
One of the limitations of the current screening protocols highlighted by the study is the occurrence of numerous indeterminate results, leading to a time-consuming and potentially less cost-effective process.
In response to these limitations, Dr Gheyath’s lab and collaborators are currently evaluating alternative screening and confirmatory assays for HIV from multiple manufacturers.
The study’s findings hold significant importance for policymakers and healthcare providers, urging them to consider high-quality and efficient care.
By implementing the recommended improvements, the screening protocols in Qatar and other countries can be enhanced, ultimately contributing to the prevention and control of serious infectious diseases.
The study was primarily financed by the Qatar University Internal Student Grant Program, with support from other organizations within Qatar, including the Medical Commission of the Qatar Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar (WCMQ). The contributions of these organizations played an instrumental role in the success of the study.