To strengthen the standard of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing companies, Lesotho is transitioning to the World Well being Organisation’s (WHO) advisable Three HIV Take a look at Technique. The Three Take a look at Technique is an HIV testing technique during which an individual is recognized with HIV after three consecutive reactive checks.
HIV testing is crucial to reaching “the primary 95” of the UN “95-95-95” targets geared toward guaranteeing not less than 95% of individuals residing with HIV know their HIV standing by 2025 thereby contributing to ending the HIV epidemic.
Lesotho has one of many highest HIV prevalence charges globally, with roughly 21.1% of the inhabitants residing with HIV. About 280,000 individuals are residing with HIV with roughly 4,790 new HIV infections and round 4,700 deaths attributed to AIDS yearly. The excessive prevalence, incidence, and mortality requires the urgency of prevention and early detection to avert many of the new infections and deaths prevented with well timed analysis and therapy by means of well timed and correct analysis.
With the evolving HIV epidemic in Lesotho, up to date HIV tips are important for bettering analysis, supporting therapy initiation, stopping new infections, guaranteeing continuity of care, sustaining high quality, and aligning with world requirements and nationwide healthcare targets.
In response to adjustments within the HIV epidemic, in November 2019, WHO advisable international locations use three consecutive reactive checks to supply an HIV-positive analysis. Transferring from a two-test to a 3 HIV testing technique is crucial to make sure an correct HIV analysis within the face of declining HIV prevalence in international locations. The Three Take a look at Technique makes use of three consecutive HIV- reactive checks to supply an HIV- optimistic analysis.
In step with these developments, Lesotho launched into steps to transition from the older two-test HIV algorithm to the brand new three-HIV take a look at technique in step with the most recent WHO suggestions to attenuate false HIV-positive outcomes. Moreover updating its nationwide HIV testing methods, the Ministry of Well being can be adopting twin HIV syphilis testing in ANC companies.
WHO is offering ongoing technical steerage to the Ministry of Well being by facilitating consultations among the many HIV Testing Providers (HTS) Technical Working Group and stakeholders within the reviewing and updating of the 2019 nationwide HTS tips.
At present, the WHO staff is supporting the Ministry of Well being within the write-up of the brand new nationwide HTS Guideline in step with the most recent WHO tips.
The up to date HTS tips embody the three take a look at algorithms, twin HIV-syphilis testing for pregnant ladies, and a strategic mixture of HIV testing companies to attain the best influence and effectivity starting from these in facility and group settings, in addition to accomplice notification and self-testing approaches.
The plan is to finalize the up to date HTS guideline by the tip of August 2024 for implementation.