Quickness of HIV and Tuberculosis Diagnostic Procedures in Prison of Tehran, Iran.

Background: Quickness of diagnosis and getting results in prisons is lower than other settings. The present study aimed to assess the quickness of HIV and Tuberculosis diagnostic process in the Great Tehran Prison. Materials and Methods: The present study evaluated the quickness of HIV diagnostic testing (ELISA, Western Blot and CD4 count) in the Great Tehran Prison over the period of October 2013 to May 2014. Also, all suspected tuberculosis (TB) patients in the prison were examined for the occurrence of active TB through collecting 35 chest X-rays and 215 sputum specimens for acid-fast bacillus (AFB) testing at the health center laboratory. Results: The average interval between when test requests were made by a physician and when HIV ELIZA/ Western Blot was obtained was relatively long time. On average, the interval between a physician's requests for CD4 count to assess the results was eight days. The average time interval between test requests by a physician to deliver sputum samples to the laboratory was four days. However, the average time interval between a physician's requests for sputum samples to assess the results was 16 days. Conclusion: Due to the significance of positive and negative results for making decision on diagnosis, initiation and follow up of treatment procedure, the time intervals should become shorter.