Decentralization of viral load testing to improve HIV care and treatment cascade in rural Tanzania: observational study from the Kilombero and Ulanga Antiretroviral Cohort
Dorcas Mnzava, James Okuma, Robert Ndege, Namvua Kimera, Alex Ntamatungiro, Amina Nyuri, Theonestina Byakuzana, Faraji Abilahi, Paul Mayeka, Emmy Temba, Teddy Fanuel, Tracy R. Glass, Thomas Klimkait, Fiona Vanobberghen, Maja Weisser, on behalf of the KIULARCO Study Group, Aschola Asantiel, Farida Bani, Manuel Battegay, Theonestina Byakuzana, Adolphina Chale, Anna Eichenberger, Gideon Francis, Hansjakob Furrer, Tracy R. Glass, Speciosa Hwaya, Aneth Vedastus Kalinjuma, Bryson Kasuga, Andrew Katende, Namvua Kimera, Yassin Kisunga, Olivia Kitau, Thomas Klimkait, Ezekiel Luoga, Herry Mapesi, Mengi Mkulila, Margareth Mkusa, Slyakus Mlembe, Dorcas Mnzava, Gertrud J. Mollel, Lilian Moshi, Germana Mossad, Dolores Mpundunga, Athumani Mtandanguo, Selerine Myeya, Sanula Nahota, Regina Ndaki, Robert Ndege, Agatha Ngulukila, Alex Ntamatungiro, Amina Nyuri, James Okuma, Daniel H. Paris, Leila Samson, Elizabeth Senkoro, Jenifa Tarimo, Yvan Temba, Juerg Utzinger, Fiona Vanobberghen, Maja Weisser, John Wigayi, Herieth Ismael Wilson, Bernard Kivuma, George Sigalla, Ivana Di Salvo, Michael Kasmiri, Suzan Ngahyoma, Victor Z. Urio, Aloyce Sambuta, Francisca Chuwa, Swalehe Masoud, Yvonne R. Haridas, Jacqueline Nkouabi
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Monitoring HIV viral load (HVL) in people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) is recommended by the World Health Organization. Implementation of HVL testing programs have been affected by logistic and organizational challenges. Here we describe the HVL monitoring cascade in a rural setting in Tanzania and compare turnaround times (TAT) between an on-site and a referral laboratory. METHODS: In a nested study of the prospective Kilombero and Ulanga Antiretroviral Cohort (KIULARCO) we included PLHIV aged ≥ 15 years, on ART for ≥ 6 months after implementation of routine HVL monitoring in 2017. We assessed proportions of PLHIV with a blood sample taken for HVL, whose results came back, and who were virally suppressed (HVL < 1000 copies/mL) or unsuppressed (HVL ≥ 1000 copies/mL). We described the proportion of PLHIV with unsuppressed HVL and adequate measures taken as per national guidelines and outcomes among those with low-level viremia (LLV; 100-999 copies/mL). We compare TAT between on-site and referral laboratories by Wilcoxon rank sum tests. RESULTS: From 2017 to 2020, among 4,454 PLHIV, 4,238 (95%) had a blood sample taken and 4,177 (99%) of those had a result. Of those, 3,683 (88%) were virally suppressed. In the 494 (12%) unsuppressed PLHIV, 425 (86%) had a follow-up HVL (102 (24%) within 4 months and 158 (37%) had virologic failure. Of these, 103 (65%) were already on second-line ART and 32/55 (58%) switched from first- to second-line ART after a median of 7.7 months (IQR 4.7-12.7). In the 371 (9%) PLHIV with LLV, 327 (88%) had a follow-up HVL. Of these, 267 (82%) resuppressed to < 100 copies/ml, 41 (13%) had persistent LLV and 19 (6%) had unsuppressed HVL. The median TAT for return of HVL results was 21 days (IQR 13-39) at the on-site versus 59 days (IQR 27-99) at the referral laboratory (p < 0.001) with PLHIV receiving the HVL results after a median of 91 days (IQR 36-94; similar for both laboratories). CONCLUSION: Robust HVL monitoring is achievable in remote resource-limited settings. More focus is needed on care models for PLHIV with high viral loads to timely address results from routine HVL monitoring.