OBJECTIVETo examine the feasibility of RNA pooling technique in the diagnosis on acute HIV infection among female sex workers (FSWs) working at the low-grade venues.

METHODSPlasma samples from the low-grade-venue FSWs in Guangxi, in 2011 were tested for HIV antibody using the rapid testing method. All samples which were HIV antibody negative in the rapid testing were tested for HIV RNA with RNA pooling technique. FSWs who showed HIV RNA positive were tested for HIV antibody by Western blot method in 3 months. The HIV incidence in the low-grade venue FSWs was counted under the estimation formula.

RESULTSThere were 6 469 cases of FSWs who were recruited in this study. Through rapid testing, results showed that HIV antibody was positive in 139 cases, with the positive rate as 2.15%. 6 330 FSWs with HIV antibody negative were tested by HIV RNA pooling method, with 7 of them showing HIV RNA positive, in which 6 cases showed HIV-1 antibody seroconversion, thus were diagnosed as acute HIV infection. HIV incidence in low-grade FSWs appeared to be 1.45 per 100 person years (95%CI:1.17-1.76 per 100 person years) in Guangxi.

CONCLUSIONOther than regular routine HIV antibody testing, it seemed necessary to adopt the HIV RNA pooling strategy in high-risk groups such as FSWs, so as to early detect the HIV infection and to timely perform the intervention or treatment programs to prevent sexual transmission of HIV.