title: A Proposed Framework for the Implementation of Early Infant Diagnosis Point-of-Care.
abstract: Early diagnosis of HIV infection in infants and children remains a challenge in resource-limited settings, with approximately half of all HIV-exposed infants receiving virological testing for HIV by the recommended age of 2 months in 2015. To reduce morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected children and close the treatment gap for HIV-infected children, there is an urgent need to evaluate existing programmatic and laboratory practices for early infant diagnosis and introduce strategies to improve identification of HIV-exposed infants and ensure access to systematic, early HIV testing, with early linkage to treatment for HIV-infected infants. This article describes progress made in follow-up of HIV-exposed infants since 2006, including remaining unmet laboratory and programmatic needs, and recommends strategies for improvement, especially those related to the implementation of point-of-care technology for early infant diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: 1 International Laboratory Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: Karidia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.affiliation: 2 Maternal and Child Health Branch, Division of Global HIV and Tuberculosis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: Surbhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Modi
authors.affiliation: 1 International Laboratory Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: Mackenzie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hurlston
authors.affiliation: 1 International Laboratory Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: R Suzanne
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Beard
authors.affiliation: 1 International Laboratory Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Nkengasong
mesh_terms: D042241:Early Diagnosis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems
keywords: HIV; early infant diagnosis; near point-of-care; point-of-care