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FAQs

ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) is the combination of several antiretroviral medicines used to slow the rate at which HIV multiplies in the body.

It is Dry Blood Sample

They are done to monitor the rate at which the viral copies multiply in the body and then appropriate actions are taken.

Ensure the following are captured by a clinician;

  •  Date of birth or age
  •  Initiation date on ART
  • Being on ART for atleast 6 months

 

VIRAL LOAD REJECTION CRITERIA FOR DBS SAMPLES

  •  All Dry Blood spots on the card when less than the required size i.e. not filling the perforated area
  •  Blood spots collected onto dirty/ soiled DBS card, compromising the specimen integrity.
  •   DBS card with presence of serum rings i.e. improper drying (affecting the specimen integrity)
  •   DBS card without ART and form number details (DBS card cannot be linked to request form)
  •   DBS sample older than 3 weeks, VL test can’t be done on samples older than 3 weeks.
  •   DBS sample sent on none perforated card (not able to get the right spot size during sample processing)
  •   Dry Blood sample sent with less than 2 spots on the card filled
  •   Patient’s dispatch form sent without patient’s identifications (ART number or Other number)
  •   Mismatching ART number between the sample and form
  •   Patient on ARVs for less than 6 months (doesn’t qualify for the Viral Load testing as per Algorithm)
  •   Patient not yet initiated on ART (doesn’t qualify for the Viral Load testing as per Algorithm)
  •   Patient with wrong date of treatment initiation i.e. date is beyond the current calendar date.
  •   Patient with wrong date of treatment initiation i.e. date earlier than ART roll out.
  •   Patient’s date of treatment initiation not included on the form thus failing to determine VL testing eligibility
  •   Patient’s last viral load results given in less than 6 months
  •  Sample not received at CPHL Lab (only the request form was received at the testing lab)
  •   DBS sample being wet and having moulds thus compromising the sample integrity.
  •   Two forms sent for the same sample (only dispatched results for one form)
  •   Well labeled DBS card without any blood spots
  •   Patient Viral Load results less than 1000cp/ml or Not Detected in less than 12 months. (Refer to testing Algorithm)
  •   Patient Viral Load results above 1000cp/ml in less than 6 months. (Refer to testing Algorithm)
  •   ART Number details shared by different patients from the same facility.
  •   Wrong sample type sent to CPHL laboratories, Only Plasma and Dried Blood Spots (DBS) are required.

 

VIRAL LOAD REJECTION CRITERIA FOR PLASMA SAMPLES

  • Specimen sent to CPHL  laboratories with less than 0.75ml
  • Specimen sent to CPHL  laboratories haemolysed
  • Sample sent in a wrong container thus compromising the sample integrity. (use EDTA)
  • Sample delivered under wrong storage container thus compromising the sample integrity
  • Sample sent in a damaged container
  • Plasma sample container without ART and form number details (sample cannot be linked to request form)
  • Patient’s dispatch form sent without patient’s identifications (ART number or Other number)
  • Mismatching ART number between the sample and form
  • Patient on ARVs for less than 6 months (doesn’t qualify for the Viral Load testing as per Algorithm)
  • Patient not yet initiated on ART (doesn’t qualify for the Viral Load testing as per Algorithm)
  • Patient with wrong date of treatment initiation i.e. date is beyond the current calendar date.
  • Patient with wrong date of treatment initiation i.e. date earlier than ART roll out.
  • Patient’s date of treatment initiation not included on the form thus failing to determine VL testing eligibility
  • Patient’s last viral load results given in less than 6 months
  • Sample not received at CPHL Lab (only the request form was received at the testing lab)
  • Two forms sent for the same sample (only dispatched results for one form)
  • Well labelled cryovial container without any sample in it was sent to CPHL Lab.
  • Patient Viral Load results less than 1000cp/ml or Not Detected in less than 12 months (Refer to testing Algorithm)
  • Patient Viral Load results above 1000cp/ml in less than 6 months (Refer to testing Algorithm)
  • ART Number details shared by different patients from the same facility.
  • Wrong sample type sent to CPHL laboratories, Only Plasma and Dried Blood Spots (DBS) are required.

Revised EID sample rejection criteria.

  • DBS card with traces of blood clots which will affect the sample integrity.
  • Sample sent with traces of serum rings due to improper drying and packaging
  • Sample with insufficient blood spots < 1/3 of a circle.
  • Dried Blood Spots collected onto a dirty DBS card (test requires clean card)
  • Infant above 18 months of age (right age is between 1.5 to 18 months old).
  • Mismatching ID/ Name between the sample and the form.
  • DBS card with scratched Dried Blood Spots (contaminated card)
  • Infant details written twice on the dispatch form. Results for one detail will be issued out.
  • DBS card sent to CPHL without any infant details(sample cannot be linked to request form)
  • DBS card sent to CPHL without any blood spot on it.
  • DBS sample not received at CPHL.
  • DBS card sent with overlapping blood spots (compromising the test integrity).
  • DBS sample packed and sent wet and having moulds (EID requires dried blood spots).
  • Sample sent for VL testing using a wrong requisition form.
  • Sample over stayed at the facility for more than 3 months (EID test requires dried fresh samples)
  • Sample sent without Infant’s age details (age is very important for EID test)

 

It is in Butabika directly opposite Butabika National Referral Hospital

  • HIV viral load
  •    EID(early infant diagnosis)
  •    Sickle cell screening and confirmation
  •    Hepatitis B surface Antigen
  •    Bacteriological testing for both public health and clinical samples
  •    Panel preparation for EQA for clinical chemistry and Haematology

You can go to the nearest health facility where you were initiated on ART from.

It is transported from the facility to this Laboratory for testing.

From reception, EID/ Sickle cell take 3days and viral load takes 4 days.

smile-when it smiles, it means your viral load is suppressed and you are responding positively to the drug

frown-when it is sad, it means your viral load is non suppressing and you are not responding to the drug or you are not taking the drugs appropriately

No. Results are only issued by a clinician

The tests are free. No need to pay for them.

The clinician will call you when the results are ready

For an adolescent after 6months and an adult after a year.