HIV Viral Load Scale-up Among Children and Adolescents: Trends in Viral Load Suppression, Sample Type and Processing in 7 PEPFAR Countries, 2015–2018. Issue 4 (18th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hrapcak, Susan; Pals, Sherri; Itoh, Megumi; Peters, Natalie; Carpenter, Deborah; Hackett, Stephanie; Prao, Aka K.; Adje-Toure, Christiane; Eboi, Ehui; Mutisya, Immaculate; Nyabiage Omoto, Lennah; Ondondo, Raphael O.; Bowen, Nancy; Nyanya, Winifred; Kayira, Dumbani; Kaba, Muluken D.; Mwenda, Rueben; Deus, Maria Ines; Almeida, Jose; Cuco, Rosa Marlene M.; Boylan, Ashley; Beard, Suzanne; Ashikoto, Sylvia; van Rooyen, Gerhard; Kindra, Gurpreet; Diallo, Karidia; Carmona, Sergio; Nazziwa, Esther; Mwangi, Christina; Ntale, Jonathan; Ssewanyana, Isaac; Nabadda, Susan N.; Nabukenya, Miriam; Ellenberger, Dennis; Rivadeneira, Emilia;
• Is Part Of: Pediatric infectious disease journal. Volume 42:Issue 4(2023)
• Page Start: e102
• Page End: e104
• Publication Date: 2023-01-18
• Subjects: children -- dried blood spot -- viral load; Communicable diseases in children -- Periodicals; Infection in children -- Periodicals; 618.929
• DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003824
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-3668

Abstract

Abstract : HIV-positive children and adolescents face gaps in viral load (VL) testing. To understand trends in pediatric/adolescent VL testing, 7 countries collected data from Laboratory Information Management Systems. Results showed increasing proportion of VL tests done through dried blood spot (DBS) and decreased sample rejection rates for DBS compared with plasma, supporting use of DBS VL when skilled phlebotomy is unavailable.