Summary of comparisons of MT and DBS for complete results of HIV and STS blood sampling
| Blood collection system | STI kit return/request, n (%) | HIV/STS sample returns/STI kit return, n (%) | Successful HIV/STS sample processing and analysis/blood sample return, n (%) | Overall HIV/STS result obtained/STI kits requested, n (%) | RRR, n (ratio) |
| MT | 1072/1515 (70.8) | 945/1072 (88.2) | 514/945 (54.4) | 514/1515 (33.9) | 2.9 |
| DBS | 3133/4155 (75.4) | 2727/3133 (87.0) | 2578/2727 (94.6) | 2578/4155 (62.0) | 1.6 |
| p value Percentage difference (95% CI) | <0.001 4.6 (2.0 to 7.3) | 0.340 −1.2 (−3.3 to 1.2) | <0.001 40.2 (36.9 to 43.4) | <0.001 28.1 (25.3 to 30.9) | -- |
P values in bold typeface denote statistical significance; p values rounded to three decimal places, RRR value rounded to two decimal places.
For proportion percentage differences with 95% CI, negative values favour MT and positive values favour DBS.
DBS, dried blood spot; MT, mini tube; RRR, request-to-result ratio; STS, serological test for syphilis.