Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Isolation of Leukocytes from Human Breast Milk for Use in an Antibody-dependent Cellular Phagocytosis Assay of HIV Targets
Published on: September 6, 2019
Challenges in the Early Infant HIV Diagnosis and Treatment Cascade
Lynne M Mofenson1, Jennifer Cohn2,3, Emma Sacks1
1Department of Research, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Washington, DC.
Insights
Early infant diagnosis of HIV infection is crucial for reducing child mortality. Challenges in testing and treatment access persist, hindering progress in pediatric HIV care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Improving outcomes for children with HIV requires early identification and prompt treatment.
- Current pediatric HIV diagnosis and treatment rates remain suboptimal globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the challenges within the early infant diagnosis (EID) cascade for HIV-exposed infants.
- To explore innovations aimed at overcoming these EID challenges.
Main Methods:
- Review of the EID cascade, identifying bottlenecks.
- Discussion of logistical, financial, and human resource challenges.
- Exploration of potential innovative solutions.
Main Results:
- Low rates of infant nucleic acid diagnostic testing and treatment initiation in 2018.
- Complexity of infant HIV diagnosis compared to adult testing.
- Significant programmatic challenges in EID implementation.
Conclusions:
- Addressing EID cascade challenges is essential for improving pediatric HIV morbidity and mortality.
- Innovations are needed to enhance testing accessibility and treatment engagement for infants.
- Systematic improvements in healthcare coordination and resource management are vital.
Abstract:
The first step in improving morbidity and mortality among children living with HIV is the timely and early identification of HIV infection, which must be followed by rapid engagement in care and provision of antiretroviral therapy. However, in 2018, only 59% of HIV-exposed infants received an infant nucleic acid diagnostic test by age 2 months and only 54% of children living with HIV received treatment. Because infant diagnosis requires molecular techniques to detect viral nucleic acid, programs for early diagnosis of infection in infants are more complex than those in adults and often require coordination and management of multiple health facilities as well as logistic, financial, and human resource challenges. This article will discuss challenges at each step in the early infant diagnosis cascade and innovations that may help overcome these challenges.
Related Concept Videos
Immunodeficiency Diseases
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency...
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...

