Viral load testing in a resource-limited setting: quality control is critical

Viral load testing in a resource-limited setting: quality control is critical

BACKGROUND World Health Organization guidelines now recommend routine use of viral load testing, where available, for patients receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART). However, its use has not been routinely implemented in many resource-limited settings due to cost, availability and accessibility. Viral load testing is complex, making its application in resource-limited settings challenging. W...

Viral load testing in resource-limited settings.

Survival of Extremely Preterm Neonates in a Resource-limited Setting

Background: Preterm birth is a major contributor to neonatal and under-five mortality, and births at lower gestational ages (GA) contribute more to these statistics. Most developed countries have succeeded in improving survival at extremes of GA, while most developing countries like Nigeria still lag behind. The objective of this retrospective study was to document the...

HIV-1 viral load monitoring: an opportunity to reinforce treatment adherence in a resource-limited setting in Thailand.

This paper describes a program to increase patients' treatment literacy regarding viral load (VL) monitoring through patient education materials and a counseling protocol, implemented by peer counselors, in order to reinforce adherence to first-line treatment. VL monitoring and second-line antiretroviral treatment were introduced into an established first-line treatment program in a rural distr...

Quality Control Planning of a Hepatitis B Viral Load Laboratory-Developed Assay

  Background and Objectives: HBV DNA monitoring is important in management of chronic viral hepatitis B infection. HBV DNA measurements are carried out over period of months to years. So the analytical system must be stable and reproducible. The aim of this study was to determine the performance characteristics and to plan a statistical quality control system of a laboratory-developed real-tim...