Point-of-care HIV RNA testing and immediate antiretroviral therapy initiation in young adults seeking out-patient care in Kenya

AIDS. 2019 Apr 1;33(5):923-926. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000002110.

Abstract

: We evaluated outcomes of an HIV-1-testing intervention using rapid HIV tests followed by point-of-care Xpert Qual testing for HIV-1 RNA. Of 706 young urgent-care seeking participants evaluated, 24 (3.4%) had chronic HIV (antibody-positive), 3 (0.4%) acute HIV-1 (Qual-positive, antibody-negative), and 3 (0.4%) early HIV-1 infection (Qual-positive, antibody-discordant). Overall, 21 (70.0%) diagnosed patients started antiretroviral therapy after a median of 4 days (range 0-71). HIV-1 RNA testing led to an increase in confirmed diagnoses by 25%.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Humans
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Outpatients
  • Point-of-Care Testing* / statistics & numerical data
  • RNA, Viral
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • RNA, Viral