AIDS
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The clinical case definition for AIDS proposed by WHO for use in Africa was evaluated against HIV antibody status in 72 patients in rural Zaire. Twenty-one (29%) of the patients were antibody-positive. ⋯ Calculation of the positive predictive value at different levels of prevalence of HIV infection suggests that the case definition operates at maximum reliability in selected high-risk groups. Modifications to the case definition should be evaluated to try and improve its sensitivity and positive predictive value.