Toolkit to optimize HIV testing algorithms
Eric Gauss/Unitaid
©
Credits
Toolkit to optimize HIV testing algorithms
A standardized HIV testing strategy and quality-assured products are critical for accurate diagnosis, while poorly chosen testing algorithms can lead to misdiagnosis. Verification of testing algorithms provides objective evidence, before widespread implementation, that a specific combination of products will accurately diagnose HIV infection, thus reducing the risk of misdiagnosis.
The toolkit aims to provide countries with the tools and content needed to effectively conduct a local verification assessment to update national HIV testing algorithms following WHO recommendations on HIV testing strategies.
Summary
This overview presentation summarizes product selection principles based on WHO guidance and provides details on how to conduct a verification study (download, pptx-PowerPoint Presentation, 4.3 MB)
Generic protocol
The toolkit aims to provide countries with the tools and content needed to effectively conduct a local verification assessment to update national HIV testing...
Modules
 | HIV test selection tool
This tool provides a template for countries to help select candidate products based on their preferences. It contains performance and operational characteristics of all WHO-prequalified HIV rapid diagnostic, dual HIV/syphilis rapid diagnostic tests and enzyme-immunoassays. |
 | Checklist of lab consumables and reagents
This tool provides a generic checklist to help ensure the main lab consumables and reagents needed for the verification study are ordered. It also suggests quantities to be purchased based on a specified number of tests. |
 | Verification study database
This generic database contains basic variables needed to document results of testing both for characterization of specimens and verification of products under evaluation. It needs to be adjusted according to the type of tests selected. |
 | Piloting verified HIV testing algorithms
This short document suggests a generic methodology that can be used to conduct rapid implementation and evaluation of the new algorithm selected. |
 | Budget template for verification assessment
This generic budget lists the core items to be costed and it proposes the minimum budget required for the conduct of the verification study. The tool needs to be adapted for each context as costs will vary. Download (MS-Word document, 15 KB) |
 | Verification study Gantt chart
This generic timetable identifies the stage at which the major milestones (e.g. patient recruitment, implementation, data analysis) will be completed. The main purpose of the Gantt chart is to indicate how the overall time of the verification study will be allocated. |
Publications
1 December 2019
Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services
27 November 2019
Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services for a changing epidemic
27 November 2019
WHO encourages countries to adapt HIV testing strategies in response to changing epidemic
27 November 2019
Dual HIV/syphilis rapid diagnostic tests can be used as the first test in antenatal care
27 November 2019