The Association of False-Positive Rapid Plasma Reagin Results and HIV Infection

Abstract

To study the relationship between a false positive rapid plasma reagin (RPR) result (FP), syphilis, and HIV infection in our patients. A prospective study of the incidence of FP tests and syphilis in the general population and its relationship to HIV infection over a period of 6 months. 8.76% of the population were HIV positive. False positives were found in 15% and 1.2% of the HIV infected and noninfected patients, respectively; the attributable risk for HIV was 14.97. Syphilis was found in 5% and 0.9% of the positive and negative HIV patients, respectively; the attributable risk for HIV was 5.4. The incidence of false positive RPR results in the HIV-infected population is significantly higher than that of the non-HIV-infected patients.