title: Progress with Scale-Up of HIV Viral Load Monitoring - Seven Sub-Saharan African Countries, January 2015-June 2016.
abstract: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends viral load testing as the preferred method for monitoring the clinical response of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection to antiretroviral therapy (ART) (1). Viral load monitoring of patients on ART helps ensure early diagnosis and confirmation of ART failure and enables clinicians to take an appropriate course of action for patient management. When viral suppression is achieved and maintained, HIV transmission is substantially decreased, as is HIV-associated morbidity and mortality (2). CDC and other U.S. government agencies and international partners are supporting multiple countries in sub-Saharan Africa to provide viral load testing of persons with HIV who are on ART. This report examines current capacity for viral load testing based on equipment provided by manufacturers and progress with viral load monitoring of patients on ART in seven sub-Saharan countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda) during January 2015-June 2016. By June 2016, based on the target numbers for viral load testing set by each country, adequate equipment capacity existed in all but one country. During 2015, two countries tested >85% of patients on ART (Namibia [91%] and South Africa [87%]); four countries tested <25% of patients on ART. In 2015, viral suppression was >80% among those patients who received a viral load test in all countries except Côte d'Ivoire. Sustained country commitment and a coordinated global effort is needed to reach the goal for viral load monitoring of all persons with HIV on ART.
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lecher
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Peter N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Fonjungo
authors.forename: Andrea A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ellenberger
authors.forename: Guoqing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Christiane Adje
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Toure
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agolory
authors.forename: Georgette
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Appiah-Pippim
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beard
authors.forename: Marie Yolande
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Borget
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chipungu
authors.forename: Karidia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Downer
authors.forename: Dianna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edgil
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haberman
authors.forename: Mackenzie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hurlston
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jadzak
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kiyaga
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: MacLeod
authors.forename: Boniface
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Makumb
authors.forename: Hellen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muttai
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mwangi
authors.forename: Jane W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Mwangi
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mwasekaga
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naluguza
authors.forename: Lucy W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Ng'Ang'A
authors.forename: Shon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Souleymane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawadogo
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sleeman
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuritsky
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hader
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nkengasong
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents