Category Archives: Testing
Interferon-y release assays for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and tuberculosis infection in HIV-infected adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Despite the widespread use of interferon- release assays (IGRAs), their role in diagnosing tuberculosis and targeting preventive therapy in HIV-infected patients remains unclear. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review to...
Family-centred approaches to the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV
Prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) programmes have traditionally been narrow in scope, targeting biomedical interventions during the perinatal period, rather than considering HIV as a family disease. This...
The uptake of integrated perinatal prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programs in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: The objective of this review was to assess the uptake of WHO recommended integrated perinatal prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV interventions in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS...
Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for changing HIV-related risk behavior in developing countries
BACKGROUND: Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) continues to play a critical role in HIV prevention, care and treatment. In recent years, different modalities of VCT have been implemented, including clinic-,...
Screening for human immunodeficiency virus in adolescents and adults
Context: Human immunodeficiency virus infection affects 850,000 to 950,000 persons in the United States, with approximately 40,000 new infections annually. Diagnosis of unsuspected HIV infection could identify those who would...
A meta-analytic evaluation of the polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of HIV infection in infants
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in infants. DATA SOURCES: We used studies...
Diagnostic tests in HIV management: A review of clinical and laboratory strategies to monitor HIV-infected individuals in developing countries
We conducted a systematic review on the performance of diagnostic tests for clinical and laboratory monitoring of HIV-infected adults in developing countries. Diagnostic test information collected from computerized databases, bibliographies...
Is there a role for primary care clinicians in providing shared care in HIV treatment? A systematic literature review
BACKGROUND: Despite HIV being increasingly considered as a chronic illness, there is as yet no consensus about how primary care should be integrated with specialty care to provide optimal clinical...
How does the mining industry contribute to sexual and reproductive health in developing countries? A narrative synthesis of current evidence to inform practice
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore client and provider experiences and related health outcomes of sexual and reproductive health interventions that have been led by or that have involved mining companies....
