title: Improving the Quality of and Access to HIV Rapid Testing in the Caribbean Region: Program Implementation, Outcomes, and Recommendations.
abstract: In 2008, HIV rapid testing (HIV RT) was only minimally used in the Caribbean region. Collaboration with countries and international partners since then has resulted in greater availability and use of HIV RT services. Surveys were conducted in 2012 and 2014 among 11 selected Caribbean countries to inform stakeholders of progress made since 2008 and to identify strategies to further improve access and uptake of high-quality HIV RT in community- and facility-based settings in support of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. Key accomplishments during this period include (1) presence of in-country national HIV RT algorithms, (2) use of the dried tube specimen (DTS) as an external quality assessment (EQA) program, (3) use of standardized logbooks for data collection and monitoring, and (4) use of oral fluid for HIV RT, particularly for key population surveys. Although progress has been made since 2008 to increase access and improve the quality of HIV RT among countries in the Caribbean, some work remains to be done. This includes the development of new policies and implementation of existing ones, task shifting, quality and access to testing, testing strategies, and integration of HIV RT into HIV Testing Services.
authors.affiliation: 1 Caribbean Regional Office, Division of Global HIV and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Bridgetown, Barbados .
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alemnji
authors.affiliation: 1 Caribbean Regional Office, Division of Global HIV and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Bridgetown, Barbados .
authors.forename: Giselle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guevara
authors.affiliation: 1 Caribbean Regional Office, Division of Global HIV and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Bridgetown, Barbados .
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parris
authors.affiliation: 2 Division of Global HIV and TB, International Laboratory Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalou
authors.affiliation: 3 HIV Prevention Branch, Division of Global HIV and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Behel
authors.affiliation: 2 Division of Global HIV and TB, International Laboratory Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: Bharat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Parekh
authors.affiliation: 2 Division of Global HIV and TB, International Laboratory Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nkengasong
authors.affiliation: 1 Caribbean Regional Office, Division of Global HIV and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Bridgetown, Barbados .
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Albalak
mesh_terms: D017691:Caribbean Region; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans