PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W J Woods

Publications and source records attributed to W J Woods.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Screening for human immunodeficiency virus antibody in urine.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of an investigational test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope antibodies in urine. DESIGN: Matched blood and urine specimens were tested for HIV by two independent laboratories, both of which were blinded to all results at the other site. Duplicate positive enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) results were confirmed by immunofluorescent antibody or western blot. SETTING: Six alcohol treatment centers in the San Francisco metropolitan area. PATIENTS: Five hundred ninety-two recovering alcoholics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnosis of HIV infection by blood and urine EIA and western blot. RESULTS: The experimental urine EIA, when confirmed by urine western blot, led to a correct diagnosis in all samples. One sample was negative by urine EIA screening, positive by blood EIA, and exhibited an indeterminate blood western blot pattern (p24 band only). CONCLUSIONS: We encountered no false positive or false negative results using an investigational HIV antibody test for urine samples. There are several important advantages to HIV testing of urine versus serum or blood; however, there are also cogent reasons for limiting the use of alternative specimens for HIV testing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

HIV infection and risk behaviors among heterosexuals in alcohol treatment programs.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and high-risk behaviors among heterosexuals in alcohol treatment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Five public alcohol treatment centers. SUBJECTS: Consecutive sample of 888 heterosexual clients entering treatment between October 1990 and December 1991. Respondents were 51% black, 10% Hispanic, 33% white, and 76% male. The overall response rate was 68%. MEASUREMENTS: Structured interview and serotesting for HIV antibodies. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of HIV infection was 5% (95% confidence interval, 3% to 6%). There were no significant differences in rates of infection by age, gender, or race. The prevalence of infection in heterosexual respondents without a history of injection drug use was 3% in men and 4% in women, several times higher than published estimates from a similar community-based heterosexual sample. Unsafe sexual practices were common: 54% of respondents reported multiple sexual partners in the previous year, 97% of nonmonogamous respondents did not use condoms during all sexual encounters, and few respondents consistently asked new sexual partners about previous high-risk behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: There is a substantial prevalence of HIV infection among heterosexual clients in San Francisco (Calif) alcohol treatment programs, much of which is not associated with injection drug use. Because of this and the high prevalence of unsafe sexual behaviors, there is a relatively high likelihood of heterosexual spread of HIV among the large population of clients seeking treatment for alcohol dependency. Interventions to prevent HIV spread should become a standard part of alcohol treatment programs.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1994

Levels of HIV testing and low validity of self-reported test results among alcoholics and drug users.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate HIV testing behavior, validity of self-reported serostatus, and intention to test among alcoholics and drug users entering treatment. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. METHODS: A total of 952 clients voluntarily entering three outpatient and two inpatient public alcohol treatment centers in San Francisco were enrolled. Seventy-six per cent were men, 50% black, 81% had used both alcohol and drugs during the last year, 43% had injected drugs and 9% of the men were homosexual. Subjects completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire and blindly-linked HIV-antibody test at entry and after 1 year (81% follow-up). RESULTS: Fifty-seven per cent of subjects reported that they had previously sought HIV testing. Factors associated with HIV testing included homosexual contact, injecting drug use, having a partner who had been tested, and using condoms. Hispanics were the least likely of all ethnic groups to report testing. Of 60 subjects with HIV antibodies, 47 (78%) said they had already been tested; however, 19 (40%) inaccurately reported that their serostatus was negative and another four (9%) had no collected their test results. Blacks were much more likely than other groups to misreport or be unaware of their HIV status. Only half of the 68% who said they planned to be tested during the following year did so. Five (42%) out of 12 HIV-positive individuals who were unaware of, or misreported their serostatus at baseline, and who sought another HIV test during the follow-up year continued to report themselves as uninfected. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of clients attending public alcohol treatment centers report having been HIV tested, much greater than that observed in other populations. However, misreporting of HIV test results was very common among seropositive subjects. Alcohol and drug treatment programs for this high-risk population should include interventions to optimize use of HIV testing for prevention and treatment, and improve understanding of test results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Community psychiatry.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Community Mental Health Services↗