Early diagnosis and retention in care of HIV-infected patients through rapid salivary testing: a test-and-treat fast track pilot study.
Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the retention-in-care of individuals diagnosed during six years of salivary HIV testing (EASY-test project). Among those linked-to-care at the Infectious Diseases Department of San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy), the proportion of patients engaged, retained in care and virologically suppressed after the antiretroviral treatment was 96%, 100% and 95.2%, respectively. Results from our study suggest that salivary HIV testing may help bring to light cases of HIV infection otherwise undiagnosed, and thus favour a more rapid and wider reduction of the HIV infection burden at the population level.
Department of Infectious Diseases IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Maria Rita
MR
Parisi
Medicine of Laboratory Service IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Laura
L
Soldini
ANLAIDS Lombardia, Milan, Italy.
Silvia
S
Negri
Prevention Department - Reference Centre for HIV and STDs Local Public Health Unit, Milan, Italy.
Gian Marino
GM
Vidoni
Department of Infectious Diseases IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Nicola
N
Gianotti
Department of Infectious Diseases IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Silvia
S
Nozza
AIRON Communication, Milan, Italy.
Karin
K
Schlusnus
Medicine of Laboratory Service IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Fernanda
F
Dorigatti
Department of Infectious Diseases IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Adriano
A
Lazzarin
HAART; HIV; HIV salivary testing; HIV virological suppression; Retention in care