Challenges in the Early Diagnosis of HIV Infection in Infants: Experience from Tamil Nadu, India.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze critical steps in the testing algorithm of the National Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) program in India.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of data on cases enrolled in the EID program during 2010-2012 from Tamil Nadu was undertaken.


RESULTS
2745 dried blood spots were tested; 9% of these tested positive. Median age of infants at the time of testing was 4 months. Second specimen for confirmation was received from 67% of cases with a turn-around time of 10-270 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Even with high levels of uptake into the program, huge delays and loss-to-follow-up observed between the first and second sampling, suggests need for revision of the current testing algorithm.
HIV/AIDS Laboratory, Department of Clinical Research, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chetput; and *Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society, Egmore, Chennai, India. Correspondence to: Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Scientist G and Director, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chetput, Chennai 600 031, India. soumyas@trcchennai.in.
Luke Elizabeth
LE
Hanna
Valan Adimai
VA
Siromany
Madheswaran
M
Annamalai
Ramesh
R
Karunaianantham
Soumya
S
Swaminathan
D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies