Consolidating HIV testing in a public health laboratory for efficient and sustainable early infant diagnosis (EID) in Uganda
Loading...
Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Public Health Policy
Abstract
Uganda introduced an HIV Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) program in
2006, and then worked to improve the laboratory, transportation, and clinical
elements. Reported here are the activities involved in setting up a prospective analysis
in which theMinistry of Health, with its NGO partners, determined it would be more
effective and efficient to consolidate the initial eight-laboratory system for EID testing
of HIV dried blood samples offered by two nongovernmental partners operating
research facilities into a single well-equipped and staffed laboratory within the Ministry.
A retrospective analysis confirmed that redesign reduced overhead cost per PCR
test of HIV dried blood samples from US$22.20 to an average of $5. Along with the
revamped system of sample collection, transportation, and result communication,
Uganda has been able to vastly increase the HIV diagnosis of babies and engagement
of them and their mothers in clinical care, including antiretroviral therapy. Uganda
reduced turnaround times for results reporting to clinicians from more than amonth in
2006 to just 2 weeks by 2014, even as samples tested increased dramatically. The next
challenge is overcoming loss of babies and mothers to follow up.
Description
Keywords
HIV, Laboratories, Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), Uganda
Citation
Kiyaga, C., Sendagire, H., Joseph, E., Grosz, J., McConnell, I., Narayan, V., ... & Opio, A. (2015). Consolidating HIV testing in a public health laboratory for efficient and sustainable early infant diagnosis (EID) in Uganda. Journal of Public Health Policy, 36(2), 153-169. doi:10.1057/jphp.2015.7;