Personal Behavior and Partner's Sexual History:a Simulation of the Spread of HIV

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2006, Volume 27

Ralph Preszler & Amy Marion

Abstract

In this hands-on simulation students evaluate factors associated with the spread of HIV. Each student begins the simulation with an "uninfected" solution. They sequentially mix their solution with a variable number of solutions representing potential mates, some of which contain an antigen used to represent HIV. Students evaluate each individual's final solution with a modified ELISA procedure to screen for the antigen simulating HIV. They then use these results to reconstruct the spread of "HIV" through the population. The results are evaluated in light of the impact of two risk factors: number of mates, and mates' sexual history.

Keywords:  simulation, epidemiology, ELISA, HIV, AIDS

Virginia Tech (2005)