Retesting for verification of HIV diagnosis before antiretroviral therapy initiation in Harare, Zimbabwe: Is there a gap between policy and practice?

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2019 Oct 11;113(10):610-616. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trz047.

Abstract

Background: WHO recommends retesting of HIV-positive patients before starting antiretroviral therapy (ART). There is no evidence on implementation of retesting guidelines from programmatic settings. We aimed to assess implementation of HIV retesting among clients diagnosed HIV-positive in the public health facilities of Harare, Zimbabwe, in June 2017.

Methods: This cohort study involved analysis of secondary data collected routinely by the programme.

Results: Of 1729 study participants, 639 (37%) were retested. Misdiagnosis of HIV was found in six (1%) of the patients retested-all were infants retested with DNA-PCR. There was no HIV misdiagnosis among adults. Among those retested, 95% were retested on the same day and two-thirds were tested by a different provider as per national guidelines. Among those retested and found positive, 95% were started on ART, while none of those with negative retest results were started on ART. Of those not retested, about half (51%) were started on ART. The median (IQR) time to ART initiation from diagnosis was 0 (0-1) d.

Conclusion: The implementation of HIV-retesting policy in Harare was poor. While most HIV retest positives were started on ART, only half non-retested received ART. Future research is needed to understand the reasons for non-retesting and non-initiation of ART among those not retested.

Keywords: HIV misclassification; SORT IT; false-positive HIV; inappropriate ART initiation; operational research; retesting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • Health Policy*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Young Adult
  • Zimbabwe

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents