scholarly journals Findings from a novel and scalable community-based HIV testing approach to reduce the time required to complete point-of-care HIV testing in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tonderai Mabuto ◽  
Geoffrey Setswe ◽  
Nolundi Mshweshwe-Pakela ◽  
Dave Clark ◽  
Sarah Day ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Screening Test ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Hiv Screening ◽  
Rapid Tests ◽  
Intervention Team

Abstract Background Mobile HIV testing approaches are a key to reaching the global targets of halting the HIV epidemic by 2030. Importantly, the number of clients reached through mobile HIV testing approaches, need to remain high to maintain the cost-effectiveness of these approaches. Advances in rapid in-vitro tests such as INSTI® HIV-1/HIV-2 (INSTI) which uses flow-through technologies, offer opportunities to reduce the HIV testing time to about one minute. Using data from a routine mobile HTS programme which piloted the use of the INSTI point-of-care (POC) test, we sought to estimate the effect of using a faster test on client testing volumes and the number of people identified to be living with HIV, in comparison with standard of care HIV rapid tests. Methods In November 2019, one out of four mobile HTS teams operating in Ekurhuleni District (South Africa) was randomly selected to pilot the field use of INSTI-POC test as an HIV screening test (i.e., the intervention team). We compared the median number of clients tested for HIV and the number of HIV-positive clients by the intervention team with another mobile HTS team (matched on performance and area of operation) which used the standard of care (SOC) HIV screening test (i.e., SOC team). Results From 19 to 20 December 2019, the intervention team tested 7,403 clients, and the SOC team tested 2,426 clients. The intervention team tested a median of 442 (IQR: 288–522) clients/day; SOC team tested a median of 97 (IQR: 40–187) clients/day (p<0.0001). The intervention team tested about 180 more males/day compared to the SOC team, and the median number of adolescents and young adults tested/day by the intervention team were almost four times the number tested by the SOC team. The intervention team identified a higher number of HIV-positive clients compared to the SOC team (142 vs. 88), although the proportion of HIV-positive clients was lower in the intervention team due to the higher number of clients tested. Conclusions This pilot programme provides evidence of high performance and high reach, for men and young people through the use of faster HIV rapid tests, by trained lay counsellors in mobile HTS units.

scholarly journals Same-Day CD4 Testing to Improve Uptake of HIV Care and Treatment in South Africa: Point-of-Care Is Not Enough

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce A. Larson ◽  
Kathryn Schnippel ◽  
Alana Brennan ◽  
Lawrence Long ◽  
Thembi Xulu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Linkage To Care ◽  
Retention In Care ◽  
Baseline Period ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Care And Treatment ◽  
Cd4 Testing

Background. We evaluated whether a pilot program providing point-of-care (POC), but not rapid, CD4 testing (BD FACSCount) immediately after testing HIV-positive improved retention in care.Methods. We conducted a retrospective record review at the Themba Lethu Clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. We compared all walk-in patients testing HIV-positive during February, July 2010 (pilot POC period) to patients testing positive during January 2008–February 2009 (baseline period). The outcome for those with a≤250cells/mm3when testing HIV-positive was initiating ART<16weeks after HIV testing.Results. 771 patients had CD4 results from the day of HIV testing (421 pilots, 350 baselines). ART initiation within 16 weeks was 49% in the pilot period and 46% in the baseline period. While all 421 patients during the pilot period should have been offered the POC test, patient records indicate that only 73% of them were actually offered it, and among these patients only 63% accepted the offer.Conclusions. Offering CD4 testing using a point-of-care, but not rapid, technology and without other health system changes had minor impacts on the uptake of HIV care and treatment. Point-of-care technologies alone may not be enough to improve linkage to care and treatment after HIV testing.

scholarly journals Field Evaluation of Performance of Alere and Cepheid Qualitative HIV Assays for Pediatric Point-of-Care Testing in an Academic Hospital in Soweto, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (11) ◽  
pp. 3227-3235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya Y. Murray ◽  
Gayle G. Sherman ◽  
Firdose Nakwa ◽  
William B. MacLeod ◽  
Nosisa Sipambo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Field Evaluation ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Hiv Diagnosis ◽  
Treatment Naïve ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

ABSTRACTPoint-of-care (POC) technologies for HIV diagnosis in infants have the potential to overcome logistical challenges that delay treatment initiation and prevent improvements in morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of two POC technologies against the current standard-of-care (SOC) laboratory-based assay in South Africa, when operated by nurses in a hospital environment. Children <18 months of age who were treatment naive (excluding prophylaxis) and in whom an HIV PCR test was indicated were eligible for the study. To increase the rate of enrollment of HIV PCR-positive children, HIV-exposed neonates at high risk of mother-to-child transmission and children requiring confirmatory HIV testing were preferentially enrolled. The two POC technologies demonstrated excellent concordance, with 315 (97.8%) results consistent with the SOC result. The POC technologies yielded 102 positive and 220 negative tests each. The SOC assay had 101 positive, 214 negative, 4 indeterminate, 1 invalid, and 2 specimen-rejected results. To include the indeterminate results in sensitivity/specificity calculations, a sensitivity analysis was performed, which yielded a simulated sensitivity of 0.9904 (interquartile range [IQR], 0.9808 to 0.9904) and a specificity of 0.9954 (IQR, 0.9954 to 1.0). This study confirmed that both POC technologies can be successfully used outside the laboratory environment to yield precise sensitivity/specificity values for pediatric, including neonatal, HIV testing.

Observational study of the populations accessing rapid point-of-care HIV testing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, through a retrospective chart review of site records

2017 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 194-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Blain Johnston ◽  
Joss N Reimer ◽  
John L Wylie ◽  
Jared Bullard
Keyword(s):  
Viral Load ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Linkage To Care ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Viral Load Suppression ◽  
Hiv Test

ObjectivesHIV point-of-care testing (POCT) has been available in Manitoba since 2008. This study evaluated the effectiveness of POCT at identifying individuals with previously unknown HIV status, its effects on clinical outcomes and the characteristics of the populations reached.MethodsA retrospective database review was conducted for individuals who received HIV POCT from 2011 to 2014. Time to linkage to care and viral load suppression were compared between individuals who tested positive for HIV using POCT and controls identified as positive through standard screening. Testing outcomes for labouring women with undocumented HIV status accessing POCT during labour were also assessed.Results3204 individuals received POCT (1055 females (32.9%) and 2149 males (67.1%)), being the first recorded HIV test for 2205 (68.8%). Males were more likely to be targeted with POCT as their first recorded HIV test (adjusted OR (AOR) 1.40). Between the two main test sites (Main Street Project (MSP) and Nine Circles Community Health Centre), MSP tested relatively fewer males (AOR 0.79) but a higher proportion of members of all age groups over 30 years old (AOR 1.83, 2.51 and 3.64 for age groups 30–39, 40–49 and >50, respectively). There was no difference in time to linkage to care (p=0.345) or viral load suppression (p=0.405) between the POCT and standard screening cohorts. Of 215 women presenting in labour with unknown HIV status, one was identified as HIV positive.ConclusionsPOCT in Manitoba has been successful at identifying individuals with previously unknown HIV-positive status. Demographic differences between the two main testing sites support that this intervention is reaching unique populations. Given that we observed no significant difference in time to clinical outcomes, it is reasonable to continue using POCT as a targeted intervention.MeSH termsHIV infection; rapid HIV testing; vertical infectious disease transmission; community outreach; service delivery; marginalised populations.

Routine or targeted HIV screening of Indonesian prisoners

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erni Juwita Nelwan ◽  
Ahmad Isa ◽  
Bachti Alisjahbana ◽  
Nurlita Triani ◽  
Iqbal Djamaris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
Routine Screening ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Hiv Screening ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Targeted Screening ◽  
Routine Hiv Screening

Purpose – Routine HIV screening of prisoners is generally recommended, but rarely implemented in low-resource settings. Targeted screening can be used as an alternative. Both strategies may provide an opportunity to start HIV treatment but no formal comparisons have been done of these two strategies. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The authors compared yield and costs of routine and targeted screening in a narcotic prison in Indonesia. Routine HIV screening was done for all incoming prisoners from August 2007-February 2009, after it was switched for budgetary reasons to targeted (“opt-out”) HIV screening of inmates classified as people who inject drugs (PWIDs), and “opt-in” HIV testing for all non-PWIDs. Findings – During routine screening 662 inmates were included. All 115 PWIDs and 93.2 percent of non-PWIDs agreed to be tested, 37.4 percent and 0.4 percent respectively were HIV-positive. During targeted screening (March 2009-October 2010), of 888 inmates who entered prison, 107 reported injecting drug use and were offered HIV testing, of whom 31 (29 percent) chose not to be tested and 25.0 percent of those tested were HIV-positive. Of 781 non-PWIDs, 187 (24 percent) came for testing (opt-in), and 2.1 percent were infected. During targeted screening fewer people admitted drug use (12.0 vs 17.4 percent). Routine screening yielded twice as many HIV-infected subjects (45 vs 23). The estimated cost per detected HIV infection was 338 USD for routine and 263 USD for targeted screening. Originality/value – In a resource limited setting like Indonesia, routine HIV screening in prison is feasible and more effective than targeted screening, which may be stigmatizing. HIV infections that remain unrecognized can fuel ongoing transmission in prison and lead to unnecessary disease progression and deaths.

scholarly journals The contribution of HIV point-of-care tests in early HIV diagnosis: community-based HIV testing monitoring in Catalonia, 1995 to 2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (43) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Fernàndez-López ◽  
Juliana Reyes-Urueña ◽  
Anna Conway ◽  
Jorge Saz ◽  
Adriana Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Screening Test ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Hiv Diagnosis ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Hiv Continuum Of Care ◽  
Point Of Care Tests ◽  
The Impact

Background Community-based HIV testing services combined with the use of point-of-care tests (POCT) have the potential to improve early diagnosis through increasing availability, accessibility and uptake of HIV testing. Aim To describe community-based HIV testing activity in Catalonia, Spain, from 1995 to 2018, and to evaluate the impact of HIV POCT on the HIV continuum of care. Methods A community-based network of voluntary counselling and testing services in Catalonia, Spain has been collecting systematic data on activity, process and results since 1995. A descriptive analysis was performed on pooled data, describing the data in terms of people tested and reactive screening test results. Results Between 1995 and 2018, 125,876 HIV tests were performed (2.1% reactive). Since the introduction of HIV POCT in 2007, a large increase in the number of tests performed was observed, reaching 14,537 tests alone in 2018 (1.3% reactive). Men who have sex with men (MSM), as a proportion of all people tested, has increased greatly over time reaching 74.7% in 2018. The highest percentage of reactive tests was found in people who inject drugs followed by MSM. The contribution of community-based HIV testing to the overall total notified cases in the Catalonia HIV registry has gradually increased, reaching 37.9% in 2018, and 70% of all MSM cases. In 2018, the percentage of individuals with a reactive screening test who were linked to care was 89.0%. Conclusion Our study reinforces the important role that community-based HIV POCT has on the diagnosis of HIV in key populations.

scholarly journals Laboratory-based Evaluation of Wondfo HIV1/2 Rapid Test Kits in the Gambia, December 2020

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mendy A ◽  
◽  
Sanneh ML ◽  
Jarju ML ◽  
Ceesay FB ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Hiv Screening ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
First Response ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
Hiv 1

Background: HIV rapid diagnosis in The Gambia is mainly done using Determine HIV-1/2 and First Response HIV 1.2.0 or SD Bioline HIV-1/2 3.0 for screening and sero-typing of HIV respectively among children and adults. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is used for the detection of the HIV viral genome among infants born to HIV positive mothers. This is the HIV testing Algorithm recommended in the HIV testing guidelines of The Gambia for both HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT), Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) as well as other clinical requests for HIV testing. At the National Public Health Reference Laboratories (NPHRL), ELISA is the first line of testing for HIV while First Response HIV 1.2.0 or SD Bioline HIV 1/2 3.0 is used for preliminary serotyping. MP Diagnostics HIV Blot 2.2 Western Assay, which is the gold standard for HIV testing in The Gambia, is used as the tie breaker (i.e., when there are discordant results). The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the Wondfo HIV 1/2 rapid test kit for the detection of human antibodies to HIV in serum/plasma/whole blood and dried blood spots. Methods: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of Wondfo HIV 1/2 kits were evaluated in terms of HIV screening against Determine HIV1/2, GenScreen Ultra HIV Ag-Ab ELISA and First Response HIV 1.2.0 using a total of 401 samples. Of these, 351 were sera/plasma samples {100 HIV negative, 250 HIV positive and 1 indeterminate that were stored at -20°C, 26 were whole blood samples (4 negative, 22 positive), and 24 were dried blood spot (DBS) specimens (16 negative and 8 positive) were used for this evaluation. HIV positive specimens were previously sero-typed using First Response HIV-1.2.0 test cards and MP Diagnostics HIV Blot 2.2 Western Assay. Results: The evaluation shows that the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of Wondfo HIV 1/2 Test Kits with regards to HIV Screening when compared with the GenScreen Ultra HIV Ag-Ab ELISA and First Response 1.2.O (n=401) were 100%, 100%, 100%, and 100% respectively. Similarly, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of Wondfo HIV 1/2 Test Kits with regards to HIV Screening compared to Determine HIV1/2 (n=401) were 99.64%, 100%, 100%, and 99.17% respectively. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that Wondfo HIV 1/2 test kits have a high sensitivity and specificity when used for the detection of HIV antibodies using human serum/plasma, whole blood or DBS.

scholarly journals Cost of point-of-care lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan antigen testing in HIV-positive adults in South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 1082-1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Mukora ◽  
M. Tlali ◽  
S. Monkwe ◽  
S. Charalambous ◽  
A. S. Karat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Hiv Positive Adults ◽  
Antigen Testing

scholarly journals Self-reported motivators for HIV testing in the treat-all era among HIV positive patients in Johannesburg, South Africa

Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 100 (15) ◽  
pp. e25286
Author(s):  
Idah Mokhele ◽  
Tembeka Sineke ◽  
Jonas Langa ◽  
Dorina Onoya
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Treat All

scholarly journals Stakeholders’ Perspectives for the Development of a Point-of-Care Diagnostics Curriculum in Rural Primary Clinics in South Africa—Nominal Group Technique

Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nkosinothando Chamane ◽  
Desmond Kuupiel ◽  
Tivani Phosa Mashamba-Thompson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Nominal Group Technique ◽  
Nominal Group ◽  
Point Of Care Diagnostics ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Hiv Testing And Counselling ◽  
Professional Nurses ◽  
Testing Standards

Poor knowledge and adherence to point-of-care (POC) HIV testing standards have been reported in rural KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), a high HIV prevalent setting. Improving compliance to HIV testing standards is critical, particularly during the gradual phasing out of lay counsellor providers and the shifting of HIV testing and counselling duties to professional nurses. The main objective of this study was to identify priority areas for development of POC diagnostics curriculum to improve competence and adherence to POC diagnostics quality standards for primary healthcare (PHC) nurses in rural South Africa. Method: PHC clinic stakeholders were invited to participate in a co-creation workshop. Participants were purposely sampled from each of the 11 KwaZulu-Natal Districts. Through the Nominal Group Technique (NGT), participants identified training related challenges concerning delivery of quality point of care diagnostics and ranked them from highest to lowest priority. An importance ranking score (scale 1–5) was calculated for each of the identified challenges. Results: Study participants included three PHC professional nurses, one TB professional nurse, one HIV lay councilor, one TB assistant and three POC diagnostics researchers, aged 23–50. Participants identified ten POC diagnostics related challenges. Amongst the highest ranked challenges were the following:absence of POC testing Curriculum for nurses, absence of training of staff on HIV testing and counselling as lay counsellor providers are gradually being phased out,. absence of Continuous Professional Development opportunities and lack of Staff involvement in POC Management programs. Conclusion: Key stakeholders perceived training of PHC nurses as the highest priority for the delivery of quality POC diagnostic testing at PHC level. We recommend continual collaboration among all POC diagnostics stakeholders in the development of an accessible curriculum to improve providers’ competence and ensure sustainable quality delivery of POC diagnostic services in rural PHC clinics.

Barriers to HIV testing among Australian gay men

Sexual Health ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garrett Prestage ◽  
Graham Brown ◽  
Phillip Keen
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Hiv Diagnosis ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Hiv Positive Men

Objective To investigate the barriers to HIV testing among Australian gay men. Methods: An online survey was conducted to explore reasons for avoiding and delaying testing for HIV; 519 non-HIV-positive men completed the online survey. Results: Most non-HIV-positive men (92.9%) had been tested for HIV, with 75.4% indicating they had been tested in the previous year. The most common reasons for avoiding or delaying testing were a belief that they had not done anything risky (41.2%) and the need to return for a second clinic visit to receive results (40.3%). Among men who engaged in unprotected anal intercourse with casual partners (UAIC), those who had not been recently tested were more likely to cite the lack of any symptoms as reasons for not having tested (adjusted odds ratio: 2.34; 95% confidence interval: 1.03–5.31; P = 0.041). Conclusions: For men who do not engage in risky sex, the decision not to test is probably reasonable, but those who engage in noncondom-based risk reduction may be at some increased risk and should be encouraged to test relatively often. Changes to Australia’s national HIV testing policy may ameliorate some of the need to return for second clinic visits to receive results, but the policy still requires full implementation, including the introduction of rapid point-of-care HIV testing to Australia. Among men who engage in UAIC, there appears to be a particular need for information about the benefits of early treatment after HIV diagnosis and about the relative likelihood of experiencing HIV seroconversion illness.

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