Family Testing: An Index Case Finding Strategy to Close the Gaps in Pediatric HIV Diagnosis.

ABSTRACT: Despite significant advances in pediatric HIV treatment, too many children remain undiagnosed and thus without access to lifesaving antiretroviral therapy. It is critical to identify these children and initiate antiretroviral therapy as early as possible. Although the children of HIV-infected adults are at higher risk of infection, few access HIV testing services because of missed opportunities in existing case finding programs. Family testing is an index case finding strategy through which HIV-infected patients are systematically screened to identify family members with unknown HIV status. By specifically targeting a high-risk population, family testing is a pragmatic, high-yield, and efficient approach to identify previously undiagnosed HIV-infected children and link them to care before

SUBMITTER: Simon KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6047763 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature