Lost opportunities to complete CD4+ lymphocyte testing among patients who tested positive for HIV in South Africa.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate rates of completion of CD4+ lymphocyte testing (CD4 testing) within 12 weeks of testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at a large HIV/AIDS clinic in South Africa, and to identify clinical and demographic predictors for completion.


METHODS
In our study, CD4 testing was considered complete once a patient had retrieved the test results. To determine the rate of CD4 testing completion, we reviewed the records of all clinic patients who tested positive for HIV between January 2008 and February 2009. We identified predictors for completion through multivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
Of the 416 patients who tested positive for HIV, 84.6% initiated CD4 testing within the study timeframe. Of these patients, 54.3% were immediately eligible for antiretroviral therapy (ART) because of a CD4 cell count ≤ 200/µl, but only 51.3% of the patients in this category completed CD4 testing within 12 weeks of HIV testing. Among those not immediately eligible for ART (CD4 cells > 200/µl), only 14.9% completed CD4 testing within 12 weeks. Overall, of HIV+ patients who initiated CD4 testing, 65% did not complete it within 12 weeks of diagnosis. The higher the baseline CD4 cell count, the lower the odds of completing CD4 testing within 12 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient losses between HIV testing, baseline CD4 cell count and the start of care and ART are high. As a result, many patients receive ART too late. Health information systems that link testing programmes with care and treatment programmes are needed.
Larson
Bruce A
BA
Center for Global Health and Development, Boston University School of Public Health, MA 02118, United States of America. blarson@bu.edu
Brennan
Alana
A
McNamara
Lynne
L
Long
Lawrence
L
Rosen
Sydney
S
Sanne
Ian
I
Fox
Matthew P
MP
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014944:World Health Organization
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents