SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In an anonymous study of HIV-I sero-reactivity in dental patients in a Government clinic in Namibia, 29 (7%) out of 405 patients (10 female and 19 male) were confirmed as HIV-infected. HIV-antibody testing was done cheaply and conveniently by collecting and storing finger-prick blood on absorbent paper, and eluting the samples 7 weeks later. Testing was done by GACPAT, a simple, inexpensive temperature independent assay which requires no specialised equipment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Six patients had orofacial lesions, including Kaposi's sarcoma, leukoplakia (bilateral on buccal mucosa), cervical lymphadenopathy, hairy leukoplakia, circum-oral herpes simplex, HIV-gingivitis and necrotising ulcerative gingivitis. This sampling and testing system is well suited for use in epidemiological surveys in developing countries.
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Itula et al. (1997) studied this question.