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. 2023 Apr 1;42(4):e102-e104.
doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003824. Epub 2023 Jan 18.

HIV Viral Load Scale-up Among Children and Adolescents: Trends in Viral Load Suppression, Sample Type and Processing in 7 PEPFAR Countries, 2015-2018

Susan Hrapcak  1 , Sherri Pals  1 , Megumi Itoh  1 , Natalie Peters  2 , Deborah Carpenter  1 , Stephanie Hackett  1 , Aka K Prao  3 , Christiane Adje-Toure  3 , Ehui Eboi  4 , Immaculate Mutisya  3 , Lennah Nyabiage Omoto  3 , Raphael O Ondondo  3 , Nancy Bowen  5 , Winifred Nyanya  5 , Dumbani Kayira  3 , Muluken D Kaba  3 , Rueben Mwenda  6 , Maria Ines Deus  3 , Jose Almeida  3 , Rosa Marlene M Cuco  7 , Ashley Boylan  3 , Suzanne Beard  3 , Sylvia Ashikoto  5 , Gerhard van Rooyen  8 , Gurpreet Kindra  3 , Karidia Diallo  3 , Sergio Carmona  9 , Esther Nazziwa  3 , Christina Mwangi  3 , Jonathan Ntale  3 , Isaac Ssewanyana  10 , Susan N Nabadda  10 , Miriam Nabukenya  10 , Dennis Ellenberger  1 , Emilia Rivadeneira  1
Affiliations

HIV Viral Load Scale-up Among Children and Adolescents: Trends in Viral Load Suppression, Sample Type and Processing in 7 PEPFAR Countries, 2015-2018

Susan Hrapcak et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. .

Abstract

HIV-positive children and adolescents face gaps in viral load (VL) testing. To understand trends in pediatric/adolescent VL testing, 7 countries collected data from Laboratory Information Management Systems. Results showed increasing proportion of VL tests done through dried blood spot (DBS) and decreased sample rejection rates for DBS compared with plasma, supporting use of DBS VL when skilled phlebotomy is unavailable.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

References

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