Initiatives & strategies
To accelerate coverage of VL testing, the following activities were taken up,
Reagent forecasting and scheduling: Based on the viral load tests anticipated in scheduled month, list of reagent forecast was submitted to SACS/NACO.
Prepare due list and align with sample collection date along with CD4 specimen collection: Based upon the eligible list, forecast made for number of patients for each sample collection day.
Fast-track result utilization: Patients with higher viral load were referred to the SACEP within 72 hours. The project team built the capacity of the ART centre staff to adhere to turn around time (TAT).
Patient education material on VL access and result: Knowledge of viral load is essential since attaining and maintaining an undetectable viral load can motivate treatment adherence. Counselling tools targeting the importance of Viral Load, result interpretation and importance of adherence to treatment were developed.
Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)
To promote U=U campaign, SHARE INDIA continued to mount its technical assistance on counselling and patient messaging that HIV treatment as prevention strategy, and has developed patient education materials on treatment adherence and reaching supressed viral load.