VOLUME 26, NO. 1 SPRING 1994
UPDATE Or4 HIV/AIDS
THE AIDS TESTING EXPERIENCE OF A MAJOR COMPANY
Linda Alexande~ MD
Prudential Insurance Company has been testing applicants for antibodies to HIV since 1987. Over the past two
years Prudential’s Eastern Operations Center, located in
Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, has compiled demographic data on HIV positive applicants. These include
applicants from Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and
Washington, D.C.
From June 1,1991 to May 31,1992 (hereafter referred to
as 1992 data), 48,884 applicants underwent initial
screening with the serum ELISA (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbant Assay). Between June 1,1992 and May 31,
1993 (hereafter referred to as 1993 data), 42,606 initial
serum screens were performed.
Reactive ELISA samples were re-tested in duplicate,
and if reactive, were subjected to confirmatory Western
Blot testing using accepted FDA protocols.
All testing was performed by the GIB Laboratories located in New Providence, New Jersey. All results were
verified by the Laboratory Director and the Medical
Director.
Data Analysis
lowed by the 36-40 and 31-35 ranges. Among females in
1992 the greatest number of positives was also in the
26-30 age ranged, followed by the 31-35 and 36-40
ranges.
In 1992 the greatest number of positives among males
was in the 36-40 age range, followed by the 31-35 and
26-30 age ranges. Among females in 1993 the greatest
number was in the 31-35 age range followed by the
36-40 and 41-45 age range.
Figure 2 looks at male and female applicants by marital
status. Of interest is the fact that the increase in the
percentage of single males from 1992 to 1993 reflects an
absolute decrease in the number of married male HIV
positive applicants rather than in increase in the number of single male HIV positive applicants. In 1992 of 58
HIV positive male applicants in this screened population 25 were married and 24 were single. In 1993 the
comparable numbers were 11 married males and 21
single males.
Among females in 1992 there were 11 married and 10
single. In 1993 there were 9 married females and 12
single females.
Figure 3 provides a breakdown by policy amount for
those applicants who were initially screened by serum
testing. The policy amount was not available in 5 cases.
Figure I compares HIV positive results by age and sex
for 1992 and 1993. In 1992 there were 90 confirmed
positives among the 48,884 specimens screened by se- Figure 4 demonstrates state of residence. The greatest
rum initially. This was comprised of 58 males and 32 number of positives was seen in applicants from New
York and New Jersey.
females, or 64% males and 36% females.
In 1993 there were 64 confirmed positive among 42,606
specimens screened by serum initially. This was comprised of 46 males and 28 females, or 56 % males and 44 %
females.
Figure I breaks down male and female results further by
age range. In 1992 among males the greatest number of
positives was in the 26-30 and 41-50 age ranges, fol-
V’~ce President, Medical Services, Prudential Insurance Company of
America, Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.
28
Figure 5 calculates the prevalence of HIV positives broken down by sex among the tested population of applicants for life insurance in the states listed above who
were initially screened by serum testing. Of interest are
the prevalence rates of females compared to males of 22
per 10,000 vs. 17 per 10,000 in 1992 and 20 per 10,000 vs.
13 per 10,000 in 1993.
JOURNAL OF INSURANCE MEDICINE
VOLUME 26, NO. 1 SPRING 1994
Figure 1
1992/1993 ComFarison - HIV Positive Count by. Sex and Age
Male
Female
1992
15-20
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-40
41-45
46-5O
51.55
56-60
61-65
66-70
Count
0
3
16
7
11
14
4
2
0
1
0
10
1993
%
0.0
5.2
27.6
12.1
19.0
24.1
6.9
3.4
0.0
¯ 1.7
0.0
100
Count
0
1
5
8
14
3
3
1
1
0
0
36
1992
%
0.0
2.8
13.9
22.2
38.9
8.3
8.3
2.8
2.8
0.0
0.0
100
Count
32
1993
%
0.0
9.4
28.1
21.9
15.6
9.4
6.3
6.3
0.0
0.0
3.4
100
Count
0
0
3
9
7
5
3
1
0
0
0
%
0.0
0.0
10.7
32.1
25.0
17.9
10.7
3.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
100
Male Applicants
7
6
4
2
15-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 61-65
AGE OF APPLICANTS
~ I~2 [Z3 1993
20
66-70
Female Applicants
15
I0
5
0
15-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 61-65
AGE OF APPLICANTS
~ 1992 V--] 1993
66-70
Note: All data collected at The Prudential’s Eastern Home Office. June 1st to May 31st reflects one year.
29
VOLUME 26, NO. 1 SPRING 1994
UPDATE ON HIV/AIDS
Figure 2
1992/1993 Comparison -- Marital Status of HIV Apylicants by Sex
Male Percentage
1992
1993
Count
Married
Single
Divorced
Separated
Widowed
25
24
6
3
0
Female Percentage
42.6
40.7
11.1
5.6
0
1992
1993
Count
%
Count
%
Count
11
21
2
2
0
30.6
58.3
5.6
5.6
0
11
10
2
6
3
34.4
31.3
6.3
18.8
9.4
9
12
4
3
0
32.1
42.9
14.3
10.7
0
Male Applicants
70
50
40
30
20
10
0
Married
Single
Divorced
Separated
Widowed
Separated
Widowed
MARITAL STATUS
~ 1992 ~
1993
Female Applicants
50
40
30
20
10
0
Married
Single
Divorced
MARITAL STATUS
1 1992 ~
1993
Note: All data collected at The Prudential’s Eastern Home Office. June 1st to May 31st reflects one year.
3O
JOURNAL OF INSURANCE MEDICINE
VOLUME 26, NO. 1 SPRING 1994
Figure 3
199r2/1993 Comparison ~
HIV Positive Results by Polio. Amount
5,000
5,001-9,999
10,000
10,001-24,999
25,000
25,001-49,999
50,000
50,001-59,999
60,000
60,001-69,999
70,000
70,001-79,999
80,000
80,001-89,999
90,000
90,001-99,999
100,000
100,001-120,000
120,001-139,999
140,000-149,999
150,000
150,001-190,000
190,001-199,999
200,000
200,001-250,000
>250,000
Total
Figure 4
Applicants State of Residence
1992
1993
0
0
6
3
6
2
5
1
1
0
0
3
0
1
0
0
8
1
9
2
6
9
1
6
7
8
85
2
0
4
1
6
2
2
0
12
1
1
2
0
0
0
0
11
1
5
2
3
4
2
0
2
1
64
State
1992
1993
New York
New Jersey
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Massachusetts
Washington D.C.
Connecticut
New Hampshire
Delaware
Maine
Rhode Island
Vermont
61
13
7
2
3
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
31
18
5
6
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
Total
90
64
Note: All data collected at The Prudential’s Eastern Home Office. June
1st to May 31st reflects one year.
Figure 5
Prudential (EHO) Composite Data
1992 Total Test Results
Total Tests
# of positive specimens
% of positive specimens
Male
33,9894
58
0.17%
Female
14,860
32
0.22%
48,844
90
0.18%
14,114
28
0.20
42,606
64
0.15%
1993 Total Test Results
Total Tests
# of positive specimens
% of positive specimens
Male
28,492
36
0.13%
31