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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Amplifying and Quantifying HIV-1 RNA in HIV Infected Individuals with Viral Loads Below the Limit of Detection by Standard Clinical Assays
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HIV testing at birth: Are we getting it right?

Chanté Bisschoff1, Jasmine Coulon1, Ziva Isaacs1

  • 1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine
|July 17, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Early infant diagnosis of HIV through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is crucial. While most HIV-exposed infants received birth PCR tests, implementation gaps hinder optimal early HIV detection and treatment initiation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Birth polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is vital for early HIV detection and treatment initiation in infants.
  • National guidelines for infant HIV testing exist, but their implementation requires evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the implementation of birth PCR testing for HIV-exposed infants at MUCPP CHC.
  • To determine if HIV-positive infants were initiated on treatment and if follow-up appointments were scheduled.
  • To evaluate the rate of mothers/caregivers collecting PCR test results.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective descriptive file audit of 1304 birth records from 2016 at MUCPP CHC.
  • Study sample included 428 infants born to HIV-positive mothers.
  • Data collected via birth register and electronic database for PCR results.

Main Results:

  • 87.6% of infants received a birth PCR test; 1.1% tested HIV positive.
  • Follow-up tests were not routinely scheduled.
  • Only 36.7% of infants attended a 10-week follow-up test.

Conclusions:

  • Most HIV-exposed infants received birth PCR testing, but the clinic fell below the 90% national target.
  • Lack of a robust record-keeping system prevents tracking of treatment initiation for HIV-positive infants.
  • Systemic improvements are needed to ensure timely HIV diagnosis and care for exposed infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
Birth HIV PCR testingCommunicationDocumentationFollow-up testingNational guidelinesPrevention of mother-to-child Transmission

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