ASLM’s Resource Center is designed to help you keep up with the latest tool kits, regulations, guides and other information published by ASLM, partners, and global health regulatory bodies. Use the filters above to locate the information you need based on the ASLM project, resource type, or topic of interest. To find a specific resource, enter the resource name in the search bar. You may also use the search bar to enter key words related to the resources of your interest.

Total: 97 Resources
March 20, 2024
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

The March LabCoP ECHO Session focused on transforming pediatric HIV care through ensuring equitable access with the introduction of Xpert HIV-1 Qual XC. Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV infected infants improves overall care outcomes, yet coverage of critical interventions including access to timely diagnostic services in this population remains low. There is… Read More

March 11, 2024
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

The February LabCoP ECHO Session focused on low-level viremia during anti-retroviral therapy. Progress in research on HIV/AIDS, the implementation of interventions to support prevention, case identification and availing lifesaving antiretroviral treatment (ART) have been generally successful. Despite these strides, up to 39 Million people globally were living with HIV and about 630,000 died from AIDS-related… Read More

December 5, 2023
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Report

In April 2023, ASLM’s Laboratory Directors Forum convened a high-level meeting on diagnostic integration and laboratory systems strengthening in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting brought together 97 attendees, including 53 in-person and 44 virtual participants, consisting of laboratory directors, HIV and tuberculosis (TB) programme managers from 15 countries, global health experts, funders, and collaborating partners. This… Read More

November 16, 2023
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

The October 2023 LabCoP Diagnostic Network Optimization (DNO) Sub-CoP EHO Session was help in conjunction with the Kenya Ministry of Health and partners on integrated DNO. The session provided an overview of the integrated DNO conducted in Kenya to improve access to testing for tuberculosis (TB), HIV and human papillomavirus (HPV). Presentations were made by… Read More

October 17, 2023
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e-Learning, Presentation, Video

Description: On 12 October 2023, ASLM’s LabCoP convened an Extended ECHO session focusing on the World Health Organization’s recently released guidance on the role of HIV viral suppression, and the Lancet systematic review that credits undetectable levels of the virus for both improving individual health and halting onward HIV transmission. The session presentation was made… Read More

July 27, 2023
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Guidelines, Publication

This World Health Organization policy brief explains the rationale behind the thresholds of HIV viral load suppression and provides additional information regarding implementation considerations. The ultimate goal of antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV is attainment of undetectable viremia. This is for their own health and to prevent onward transmission to their sexual partner(s)… Read More

July 25, 2023
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

The July 2023 LabCoP ECHO session, jointly organized by ASLM and Cepheid, focused on point-of-care (POC) HIV viral load (VL) at delivery to facilitate early infant diagnosis (EID) and maternal adherence in Uganda. In this session, we discuss results of a randomized trial focussing on the use of POC testing for EID and VL to… Read More

May 26, 2023
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Guidelines, Publication

Safe disposal of laboratory waste is a critical component of good laboratory practice. Molecular diagnostic test services, including HIV viral load (VL) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing, have the potential to generate guanidinium thiocyanate (GTC), a potentially toxic compound, which requires specialised treatment and disposal. There are growing waste management challenges in many laboratories… Read More

May 2, 2023
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

This LabCoP Diagnostic Network Optimisation (DNO) Sub-CoP ECHO session in co-convened with the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), focuses on providing an overview of the DNO analysis in Zambia for TB/HIV testing integration, including objectives, methodology and key findings. It further explores how findings from the diagnostic network optimization analysis informed Zambia Ministry of… Read More

March 6, 2023
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Guidelines, Presentation, Video

A second February 2023 LabCoP Monthly ECHO session is one of a two-part series dedicated to the new WHO recommended HIV test algorithm. In this first session, we focus on transitioning to a three-assay HIV testing strategy that requires three consecutive reactive tests to provide an HIV positive diagnosis and limit the risk of misdiagnosis… Read More

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January 10, 2023
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Report

The Laboratory System’s Strengthening Community of Practice (LabCoP) 6th Annual Meeting report presents key summaries, proposed actions and recommendations from the 2022 annual meeting. Held in Cape Town, South Africa from 11-13 October 2022, this hybrid in-person and virtual meeting brought together 19 country teams, funding agencies, ASLM collaborating partners and the LabCoP Management Team…. Read More

December 7, 2022
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

LabCoP’s December 2022 ECHO session shares practical insights on integrated testing for HBV and Xpert HCV to align with the World Health Organization’s goal for the triple elimination of HIV, HBV and syphilis. Using a case from Nigeria, we discuss implementation experiences at the point-of-care sites, the existing tuberculosis (TB) and HIV testing infrastructure and… Read More

July 22, 2022
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

On 14 July 2022, ASLM’s LabCoP convened a webinar about the Rapid Test Continuous Quality Improvement (RT-CQI) initiative developed by PEPFAR and the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. In partnership with other stakeholders, it supports the strengthening of capacity and ongoing assessment of facility and individual tester competency in performing rapid tests. Given… Read More

July 7, 2022
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

On 23 June 2022, this Extended ECHO session was convened to discuss best practices and the potential of lay health workers in supporting health services delivery, especially diagnostics at decentralised health facilities, the first point of contact for patients seeking healthcare support. In this discussion, Mr Zibusiso Ndlovu, Epidemiologist and Laboratory Advisor, Medecins Sans Frontieres… Read More

June 17, 2022
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

LabCoP’s June 2022 session featured the Zimbabwe experience implementing electronic result reporting, using the SMS platform, and the impact it is having on the timely utilization of laboratory results and general HIV clients management. Laboratory results are used in the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response among individuals with acute and chronic conditions/diseases. It is… Read More

April 26, 2022
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Presentation, Tool

In 2015, under ASLM’s leadership, some Diagnostic Access Initiatives (DAI) partners including, SCMS, CHAI, MSF, and USAID jointly developed a comprehensive viral load (VL) costing model that incorporates CD4 testing, which helps estimate testing need, commodity and systems costs. This is a vital aid, because, in order to define scale-up plans, determine funding gaps and… Read More

March 14, 2022
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Video

LabCoP’s March 2022 ECHO session focused on generating demand for HIV viral load (VL) testing through targeted communications campaigns. For people living with HIV and on antiretroviral treatment, taking a VL test is essential in monitoring if the treatment is working. The World Health Organization recommends at least one annual VL test. Yet, knowledge around… Read More

February 16, 2022
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

LabCoP’s February ECHO session introduced the HIV Laboratory Waste Cost Assessment Framework (WCAF), an MS Excel-based tool co-developed by the US CDC and Roche Diagnostics, under a public-private partnership to support accurate quantification of solid and liquid wastes generated in PEPFAR-supported countries, to allow easy communication about waste management costs. The session was premised on… Read More

February 5, 2022
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Tool

The HIV Laboratory Waste Cost Assessment Framework (WCAF) is a tool to support laboratories with a standardised format for forecasting waste disposal costs for HIV viral load (VL) and early infant diagnosis (EID) to country level program managers for country operational plan (COP) planning. This tool was co-developed by US CDC and Roche Diagnostics under… Read More

January 4, 2022
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Guidelines

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), or ‘vertical transmission’ is a significant contributor to the acquisition of HIV with an estimated 150 000 new HIV infections among children reported in 2020, and other infectious diseases including syphilis and hepatitis B (HBV). The 2021 World Health Organization global guidance on criteria and processes for validation: elimination of mother-to-child transmission… Read More

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November 13, 2021
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ECHO Session

On 4 November 2021, ASLM`s LabCoP monitoring and evaluation (M&E) sub-community of practice, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, convened a session focusing on monitoring country level viral load (VL) programs. Countries are putting in place robust systems to evaluate HIV VL programs to determine if set objectives, desired outcomes and impactful results are… Read More

October 20, 2021
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Guidelines, Publication, Report

In September 2021 the World Health Organization released updated guidance on maintaining essential health services during COVID-19, which provides direction on modifications and specific measures for safe delivery of HIV services, and considerations for transition towards restoration and recovery. Surveys of 101 countries have revealed substantial disruptions across all major health areas with up to… Read More

October 9, 2021
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Guidelines, Publication

Essential diagnostic tests satisfy priority healthcare needs of a population and are selected based on disease prevalence, public health relevance, evidence of utility and comparative cost-effectiveness. Whereas essential testing services are such a critical piece in disease diagnosis, treatment monitoring, research and ongoing surveillance; pandemic containment measures, including repurposing testing capacity to the response, quarantine,… Read More

September 21, 2021
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Publication, Tool

Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) currently experience low testing coverage in the face of increasing demand to meet the needs of millions of people living with HIV, TB, HPV, hepatitis and other diseases. Therefore, innovative solutions are urgently needed to enable a robust, efficiently utilised testing capacity, and a healthy and secure market with competitive… Read More

August 24, 2021
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

LabCoP’s August 2021 ECHO session focused on sharing progress in HIV viral load (VL) monitoring among patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) from eight sub-Saharan Africa countries between 2013 and 2018. Monitoring of VL suppression at individual and population level is necessary to ensure achievement of global epidemic control. Despite significant challenges that hinder uptake in… Read More

July 12, 2021
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Video

On 8 July 2021, this COVID-19 ECHO session was convened to discuss the perspective of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in leveraging on existing HIV community engagement to respond to COVID-19 challenges and opportunities. In this session, two CSOs, The National Forum for People living with HIV&AIDS Networks in Uganda (NAFOPHANO) and The Zimbabwe National Network… Read More

July 4, 2021
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

On 30 June 2021 this Extended ECHO session was convened to discuss the implementation of the Lateral-Flow Urine Lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM) assay for the detection of active tuberculosis (TB) in people living with HIV.  The session provided an overview of current World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations, practical considerations to increase uptake, LF-LAM inclusion within the package… Read More

June 24, 2021
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

LabCoP’s June 2021 ECHO session focussed on generating demand for HIV viral load (VL) testing through targeted communications campaigns. WHO recommends at least one annual VL test for each person on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) as this is essential in monitoring if treatment is working. Generally, knowledge around the importance of VL tests as… Read More

June 18, 2021
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

In June the ASLM LabCoP monitoring and evaluation (M&E) Sub-CoP held an ECHO session on viral load (VL) testing data quality assessment. The presentation provided an overview of the 2020 WHO-UNAIDS-PEPFAR-Global Fund module for assessing and strengthening the quality of VL testing data within HIV programmes and patient monitoring systems. Kenya shared their country’s VL… Read More

June 10, 2021
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Guidelines, Report, Tool

These guidelines, published by the World Health Organization, provide new and updated recommendations and good practice statements in the following areas: starting antiretroviral therapy (ART), including initiating treatment outside the clinic and support for same-day ART start; frequency of clinical visits and ART refills; measuring adherence; tracing and re-engagement in care for all populations; psychosocial… Read More

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May 25, 2021
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

On 12 May 2021, this Extended ECHO session was convened to discuss the Global Fund COVID-19 funding mechanism, an opportunity for countries to request funds to strengthen their health systems in response while mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on other essential health services including HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. An innovative tool was discussed, that… Read More

May 20, 2021
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

In May 2021 the ASLM LabCoP monitoring and evaluation (M&E) Sub-CoP held a session on data management, dashboards and connectivity solutions for HIV viral load (VL) and early infant diagnosis (EID). Presentations were made by Yonatan Gossaye Dessalegn, Senior Associate Software Developer on Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) Global Laboratory Services Team; Kalechristos Abebe, IT… Read More

April 29, 2021
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Tool, Video

On 22 April 2021 ASLM’s LabCoP M&E Sub-community of practice held a south-to-south learning session during which the Uganda country team shared their experience in rolling out monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems for viral load (VL) including virtual dashboards that allow for performance tracking at various administrative levels. The session covered key aspects of data… Read More

April 2, 2021
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

On 1 April 2021, ASLM`s LabCoP M&E Sub-CoP, in collaboration with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Global HIV and Tuberculosis (DGHT) convened a session focusing on indicators for scale-up of viral load (VL) testing and program outcomes. Presentations were made by Nadia Solehdin, an epidemiologist, and Kat Sisler, an evaluation… Read More

March 24, 2021
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Presentation

This presentation by the Clinton Health Access Initiative outlines the steps of an integration implementation framework for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV diagnostics, and related diseases, top tips and caveats (what could go wrong and lessons learned) from pilot countries on each step and area of implementation. It provides a deeper understanding of activities required for… Read More

March 24, 2021
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Presentation

This presentation by the Clinton Health Access Initiative outlines the need for point-of-care (POC) testing, how integrated testing improves access to POC, the benefits of integration, and considerations and implementation framework for integrated testing.

March 24, 2021
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Tool

The GX Capacity Utilisation Analysis Tool is an Excel-based tool to assess the capacity utilisation of GeneXpert platforms for integrating tuberculosis (TB), HIV, HCV and HPV testing. It has been used to identify platforms running with full-capacity and with un-used capacity to inform integration decisions in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and… Read More

March 24, 2021
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Tool

The Integration Readiness Assessment Tool developed by Clinton Health Access Initiative and partners helps countries gather situation analysis information regarding an individual facility’s readiness to provide integrated testing for tuberculosis (TB), HIV and HPV. The assessment output of this MS Excel-based checklist allows for identification of sites where TB/HIV/HCV/HPV integration on the GeneXpert platform would… Read More

February 26, 2021
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Video

The catalytic investment in point-of-care (POC), early-infant-diagnosis (EID), and viral-load (VL) technologies by the Accelerating Access to Innovative Point of Care HIV Diagnostics Project, implemented in partnership between UNICEF, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), ASLM, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) and Unitaid, has shown significant results over the years. It has contributed to filling… Read More

February 25, 2021
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

On 18 February 2021, the LabCoP M&E Sub-Community of Practice held its second session that unpacked the fundamentals of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and its importance in viral load (VL) monitoring. The use of VL data is essential for patient-level and program-level decision making. VL data is often unavailable, delayed, or underutilised, hindering monitoring interventions… Read More

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February 14, 2021
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Tool, Video

On 11 February 2021, ASLM, in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s International Laboratory Branch (CDC ILB) and partnership with Roche, hosted a webinar aimed at creating access to tools that will help laboratories improve their activities and services for viral load (VL) and early infant diagnosis (EID). The presentation provides… Read More

February 6, 2021
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Tool, Video

On 5 February 2021, ASLM’s LabCoP hosted the first ECHO session of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) sub-community of practice. M&E assesses the performance of projects and programs set up by organizations to improve current and future outputs. A robust M&E system is critical to assess the performance of testing services and for decision making…. Read More

February 4, 2021
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

LabCoP’s January 2021 ECHO session covered PEPFAR’s Country Operational Plan 2021 and the laboratory systems strengthening priorities of the year. Dr George Alemnji, Senior Technical Advisor for PEPFAR Laboratory Services (OGAC), Washington DC, presented during the session. Please follow the links posted here to view the recorded video session on ASLM’s YouTube channel, and download… Read More

December 20, 2020
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Report

In November 2020 the LabCoP stakeholders met online to convene the 2020 Face-to-Face virtual meeting. LabCoP’s 4th Annual Meeting aimed to assess the progress of LabCoP countries’ action plans and the outcome of ongoing interventions; discuss laboratory system strengthening across diseases through reviewing challenges and best practices in maintaining routine viral load (VL), early infant… Read More

October 5, 2020
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

LabCoP’s August ECHO session covered external quality assessment (EQA) proficiency testing coverage, results and sustainability from the perspective of a service provider. EQA provides a measure of performance of testing laboratories and helps identify deficiencies and opportunities for improvement across the entire testing cascade. In this session, we discuss integrating economic principles into EQA, to… Read More

June 29, 2020
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Publication

In this paper, Kenneth Kintu, et al, investigated the virological suppression (achieving viral loads < 50 copies per mL) before giving birth with dolutegravir compared to efavirenz, when initiated during the third trimester. They found that dolutegravir was associated with higher rates of viral load reduction in pregnant women compared with efavirenz. Although both regimens… Read More

June 29, 2020
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Guidelines

The World Health Organization has published Version 2 (22 May 2020) of their guidance about HIV, viral hepatitis and STI programmes in relation to COVID-19. The guidance is intended to support national HIV and viral hepatitis programmes and their health workers, to provide guidance to people affected by HIV and viral hepatitis, and to maintain… Read More

June 25, 2020
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

LabCoP’s June ECHO session covered differentiated service delivery (DSD) for HIV care. DSD is a client-centered approach aimed at simplifying and adapting HIV services to different groups of people living with HIV, while reducing the burden on the health system. In recent months, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has included adjustments to clinical care… Read More

June 3, 2020
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Report

In July of 2019, the World Health Organization and the African Society for Laboratory Medicine organized a meeting with countries and key stakeholders in diagnostics to discuss and find concrete ways to improve and increase access to integrated multiplex technologies and determine how they can be translated into public health policy that impacts global impact.

June 3, 2020
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Blog Article, Guidelines

In this MEDSCAPE commentary, Dr Paul Sax from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School summarises some of the most common questions regarding COVID-19 and HIV: Is COVID-19 a more severe disease in people with HIV? Do I need to come in for my regular blood tests and checkups? Do my antiretroviral medications protect… Read More

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June 2, 2020
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Publication

This study by Nathan Ford, et al. (20 March, 2020), published in the Journal of the International AIDS Society, presents the systematic review of clinical outcomes using antiretroviral drugs for the prevention and treatment of coronaviruses and planned clinical trials. Their review indicates that it is uncertain whether LPV/r and other antiretrovirals improve clinical outcomes… Read More

May 1, 2020
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e-Learning, White Paper

Laboratories need to conduct verification or validation studies to confirm that new tests for COVID-19 diagnosis perform as intended. In this document co-authored by ASLM, FIND and the London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, further key requirements for quality assurance are defined, including quality control and external quality assessment that laboratories should follow to… Read More

April 24, 2020
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

LabCoP’s April ECHO session featured presentations about maintaining HIV and TB testing in the context of COVID-19 from Dr George Alemnji, Senior Technical Advisor for Laboratory Services at the State Department Office of Global AIDS Coordinator (SGAC) and Health Diplomacy, US CDC; Dr Lara Vojnov, Diagnostics Advisor, WHO; and Dr Dennis Falzon, Medical Officer, World… Read More

April 6, 2020
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Tool

Mozambique provided this Excel-based tool, with its accompanying instructions, as a country example of a comprehensive diagnostic network optimisation or mapping tool at the July 2019 Global Diagnostics Integration meeting in Geneva. The government sought a tool that could be: subnational, consider multiple potential technologies as well as both laboratory-based and point-of-care, incorporate testing across… Read More

April 2, 2020
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Tool

Developed by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) for its country teams and ministries of health, this tool can be used to assess the financial benefits of integrating tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and HCV testing on the GeneXpert machine. The tool only covers cross-cutting costs (i.e. not disease-specific) regarding the use of GeneXpert, such as equipment,… Read More

March 22, 2020
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Guidelines, Presentation, Video

The March 2020 waste management training session focused on Hologic’s Best Practices for Waste Handling. Todd Richmond of Hologic, shared his experiences, expertise and advice on the waste and contamination management of Hologic’s Panther. In collaboration with the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) and the LabCoP community, the CDC International Laboratory Branch (ILB) offers… Read More

March 3, 2020
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Publication

Pre-analytical challenges threaten the quality of viral load (VL) testing. This study determined the impact of delayed testing and warmer storage conditions on HIV RNA stability in diagnostic samples. Viral load in samples stored for up to a week reliably differentiated between patients with antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppression and ART failure in the majority of… Read More

March 3, 2020
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Publication

Plasma preparation tubes (PPT) can simplify storage, transport, and preparation of plasma used for viral load (VL) testing. This systematic review evaluated the accuracy of PPTs for HIV VL testing. The results showed that following proper sample handling techniques helps provide accurate results. The authors thus recommended PPTs as a high-quality alternative specimen type for… Read More

March 3, 2020
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Publication

This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes evidence that shows that task shifting of testing using point-of-care technologies from laboratory professionals to non-laboratory staff was comparable to laboratory professionals operating the same technology in the laboratory. Task shifting of clinical tasks to lower cadres of health care workers and lay counselors has been successful in scaling… Read More

February 28, 2020
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Publication

This paper by Jilian Sacks et al, 2019, presents a meta-analysis of studies comparing the Cepheid Xpert HIV-1 viral load (VL) plasma assay to traditional laboratory-based technologies. Cepheid Xpert HIV-1 VL plasma assay results were highly comparable to laboratory-based technologies with limited bias and high sensitivity and specificity to detect treatment failure. Alternative specimen types… Read More

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February 28, 2020
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Publication

This paper by Katherine Lamp et al, 2019, outlines an analysis of point-of-care (POC) CD4 invalid result rates across five countries. The authors found that the rate of invalid results was consistent across all types of health facilities, and the invalid rates were inversely correlated to operator usage, with high-volume operators. They concluded that POC… Read More

February 22, 2020
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Guidelines, Presentation, Video

In this session, colleagues from Kenya shared findings from the assessment of waste handling practices in their viral load (VL) and Early infant diagnosis (EID) laboratories. They discussed contextual issues in regard to VL & EID laboratory testing capacity and networks, laboratory self-assessment using a VL & EID customized assessment checklist, findings/results, lessons learnt, challenges… Read More

January 10, 2020
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Presentation

These presentation slides are from the Women-Centered Diagnostics satellite session of the 2019 International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2019) that was jointly organized by the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), UNICEF and Unitaid. Much has been done… Read More

December 17, 2019
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Guidelines, Publication

To reach the third 90 of the UNAIDS 90–90–90 targets, country programmes must delve into their data and understand how they represent the quality of viral load (VL) testing services. This guide, published by WHO, presents key considerations and examples of tools (provided in the annexes) to assist countries in developing a national VL M&E… Read More

December 6, 2019
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Map

Welcome to the point-of-care (POC) early infant diagnostic (EID) landscape in Africa. Through funding provided by Unitaid, partners including the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), UNICEF, and ASLM have successfully supported the introduction of POC EID and viral load (VL) technologies and pilot activities in sub-Saharan African countries. Strategic deployment of POC EID is key… Read More

November 21, 2019
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

The November 2019 Waste Management training session focused on the perspectives of Abbott Laboratories’ Best Practices for Waste Handling. Delfin Rubin, Global Product Manager of HIV Care for Infectious Disease Emerging Markets at Abbott Rapid Diagnostics, and Ami Soni, EHS Lead for Abbott Molecular describe the constituents of their HIV rapid point-of-care diagnostics, such as… Read More

November 5, 2019
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Tool

The purpose of this tool is to assist in identifying gaps and creating awareness of best practices for waste management processes in viral load (VL) and early infant diagnosis (EID) molecular testing laboratories (and associated healthcare facilities), in order to provide a starting point for assistance in waste mitigation strategies. This tool is for completion… Read More

November 3, 2019
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Report

In October 2019 the LabCoP stakeholders met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to convene the 2019 Face-to-Face meeting. It was co-convened by ASLM and the World Health Organization to enable countries to objectively assess their progress towards the improvement of the viral load testing (VLT) cascade, consolidate the implementation of interventions, enhance collaboration with civil society… Read More

October 29, 2019
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Guidelines, Presentation

Diagnostic network optimization is an exercise that aims to redesign the diagnostic network set-up in order to increase access, maximize impact, and generate efficiencies. It aligns testing demand and capacity in the most cost-effective way by defining the optimal instruments mix, identifying the most appropriate locations where instruments should be placed, and designing the referral… Read More

September 4, 2019
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Guidelines, Publication, White Paper

With limited funding for global health, identifying practical, cost and time-saving solutions, while also ensuring quality of care is increasingly important. One approach to increasing access to point-of-care (POC) testing is integrated testing (a term often used interchangeably with “multi-disease testing”), which tests for different conditions or diseases using the same diagnostic platform. This brief… Read More

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September 4, 2019
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Publication, Report

This fact sheet gives the situation as of July 2019 of the status of HIV self-testing (HIVST) in national policies, implementation of Treat All ART recommendations among adults and adolescents living with HIV, implementation of Treat All policy for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV, national policy on routine viral load testing for monitoring… Read More

September 2, 2019
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Guidelines, Publication, White Paper

Increased access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and treatment monitoring for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV is a priority for promoting health during the pregnancy and post-partum periods, and to minimize the risk of vertical transmission of HIV to infants. Point-of-care viral load (POC VL), which allows testing to be conducted at or near… Read More

August 30, 2019
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Guidelines, Publication, Report, Tool, White Paper

Currently, about half of patients on antiretroviral treatment have access to viral load testing; however, access remains focused within a small number of countries. To date, routine HIV VL monitoring, which is considered the best method for monitoring antiretroviral treatment, has been fully implemented in only 68% of low- and middle-income countries, and partially implemented… Read More

August 27, 2019
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Guidelines

Scaling up viral load (VL) testing to reach the third 95 of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets by 2030 requires a holistic approach, addressing each step of the VL testing continuum from the demand for the test for all eligible patients to the utilization of test results. Bottlenecks and inefficiencies along the VL testing cascade as… Read More

August 1, 2019
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Tool

This HIV viral load (VL) testing cascade self-assessment scorecard and user guide is used by the LabCoP country teams to identify critical gaps in their laboratory systems and assess the status of the different thematic areas of the VL cascade and their testing services to help identify opportunities for improvement. It was designed by the… Read More

July 22, 2019
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Guidelines, Presentation, Tool, Video

This Waste Management session covered updates to the checklist for assessments of viral load (VL) and early infant diagnosis (EID) testing laboratories and associated healthcare facilities. David Bressler, MS, CBSP (SM) NRM of the International Laboratory Branch, CDC, Division of Global HIV and TB presented to the audience about the checklist/tool and its ability to… Read More

June 18, 2019
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e-Learning, Video

This Rapid Testing Continuous Quality Improvement (RTCQI) training video and competency assessment tool is available on a free virtual education platform, PEPconnect to assist ministries of health, health-care providers, and stakeholders in planning, implementing and sustaining quality assurance for point-of-care testing. Critical for the first of UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 targets, this platform is developed by the… Read More

June 17, 2019
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Video

In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended viral load (VL) monitoring as the gold standard for monitoring the effectiveness of antiviral therapy (ART). One of the key barriers to VL testing in resource-limited settings is the lack of efficient specimen transport systems, to allow plasma or whole blood samples to reach the testing laboratories… Read More

June 17, 2019
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e-Learning, Video

The Stronger Together public-private partnership between Siemens Healthineers and PEPFAR is institutionalising quality improvement via a free e-platform, PEPconnect, through this library of 48 videos (with a total viewing time of 14.5 hours) that capture the lectures from the 9-day classroom-based Quality Control and Method Validation course. The course is designed to enable the participants… Read More

June 17, 2019
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Video

Early infant diagnosis (EID) is critical for timely initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) in HIV-infected children who are at high risk of mortality. In recognition of the immense benefits of dried blood spot (DBS) as a means of increasing the access to EID, the World Health Organization (WHO), African Society for Laboratory Medicine, Centers for… Read More

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June 12, 2019
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Guidelines, Publication, Tool

This guide, published by The Laboratory African Regional Collaborative (LARC) project, provides continuous quality improvement methodologies and tools. LARC supports clinicians, laboratorians and data record units to work together and improve the proportion of viral load test results put in patients’ files. LARC is a useful tool that can be used by countries to address… Read More

June 12, 2019
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Publication

This supplement, produced by Labs for Life, a public-private partnership between Becton Dickinson, Company and The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), was published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. This supplement is designed to support Ministries of Health, Laboratory Experts, Clinical staff, and implementing partners to improve global laboratory systems. This is accomplished… Read More

June 12, 2019
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e-Learning

This course provides key information on safe practices, infection control, personal protective equipment, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, and ways to manage and dispose of health care waste properly. The goal is to familiarize Clinical health care workers with proper safety practices and help them: Protect themselves and their coworkers Protect patients and clients Protect the… Read More

June 10, 2019
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Guidelines, Report

This insightful paper was published in Plos about the missed potential of CD4 and viral load testing to improve clinical outcomes for people living with HIV in lower-resource setting

May 22, 2019
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Guidelines, Presentation, Tool, Video

In the May 2019 session, Dr Katrina Sleeman, Associate Service Fellow in the Viral Load/Early Infant Diagnosis Team at the CDC ILB introduced a draft of a viral load WM checklist tool that can be used as baseline audit of select country VL labs. The tool aims to assist in creating awareness of best practices… Read More

April 8, 2019
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Guidelines, Presentation, Tool, Video

In collaboration with ASLM and the LabCoP community, the CDC International Laboratory Branch (ILB) presented an overview of the World Health Organization (WHO) Publication: ‘Safe Management of Wastes from Health-Care Activities’ during the second ECHO session dedicated to waste management. This document, developed by WHO in 2017, highlights the key aspects of safe healthcare waste… Read More

March 8, 2019
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Guidelines, Presentation, Publication, Report, Video

In collaboration with the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) and the LabCoP community, the CDC International Laboratory Branch (ILB) presented the first session in a series of ECHO sessions dedicated to waste management. In this session we reviewed waste management practices at the country level using the responses to the November 2018 LabCoP Waste… Read More

January 24, 2019
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ECHO Session, Presentation, Publication, Tool, Video

This presentation by Dr. Ritu Shrivastava from the International Laboratory Branch of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention covers free online, didactic and in-person resources available for global system strengthening through three public-private partnerships (PPP). These partnerships between the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and three private entities (Becton Dickinson and… Read More

December 18, 2018
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Publication

In 2017, UNAIDS estimated 3,300 children under the age of 15 years died from AIDS-related causes in Cameroon. A key challenge is diagnosing and treating infants early in life. Now, a new point-of-care device, which provides results within minutes of testing, has overcome some major obstacles to treatment, giving hope to thousands of mothers and… Read More

November 15, 2018
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Guidelines, Publication

Several new laboratory technologies are available or are being developed to allow for testing of different conditions using disease-specific tests on the same platform. For example, a single device may be able to test for the presence of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV, and quantitatively measure HIV and hepatitis C viral load by using disease-specific reagents… Read More

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November 15, 2018
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Guidelines, Publication

This publication provides high-level guidance on implementing and scaling up HIV viral load (VL) testing programmes for health ministries and implementation partners, using a three-phased approach: (1) planning; (2) scale-up; and (3) sustainability. The guidelines for managing antiretroviral therapy (ART) issued by the World Health Organization have recognized the importance of viral load monitoring since… Read More

September 22, 2018
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ECHO Session, e-Learning, Presentation, Video

In September 2018, Solange Baptiste and Helen Etya’ale from International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) presented about HIV viral load testing (VLT) demand creation. These presentations contain helpful information that country teams can use to improve demand creation for their HIV VLT programs. This includes information about the significance of demand creation for VLT and the… Read More

June 18, 2018
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ECHO Session, Guidelines, Presentation, Publication, Report, Tool, Video

This four-step overview of Laboratory African Regional Collaborative (LARC) was presented by Patricia Riley from the International Laboratory Branch of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. LARC can be used by countries to address inefficiencies at the laboratory–clinical interface at clinic level, and achieve the 3rd ‘90’ of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 HIV targets…. Read More

May 25, 2018
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ECHO Session, Presentation, Report, Video

Kenya’s presentation during the May LabCoP ECHO session included their experiences implementing the ‘Plan, Do, Study, Act’ (PDSA) cycle to prioritise and rapidly test ‘change ideas’ needed to facilitate the rapid identification of unsuppressed viral load (VL), followed by swift appropriate clinical action. Please follow the links below to watch the recorded session on ASLM’s… Read More

May 22, 2018
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Tool

An extension of Key Considerations for Introducing New HIV Point of Care Diagnostic Technologies in National Health Systems, this Toolkit contains various practical tools and guidance to support countries as they introduce point-of-care (POC) HIV technologies into existing national diagnostic networks and laboratory systems. It provides a roadmap for countries as they seek to expand… Read More

January 4, 2018
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Report

Representatives from the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), UNICEF and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) came together 17-18 August 2017 in New York City, United States, to  review progress to date on the implementation of a joint point-of-care project and to refine coordination mechanisms to achieve greater impact.   “This project has… Read More

January 4, 2018
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Publication

Broadens access to HIV viral load monitoring On July 20, 2017, Cepheid received World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification for its Xpert® HIV-1 Viral Load (VL) test. The Xpert® HIV-1 VL test measures Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA in human plasma from individuals infected with HIV-1 in less than 90 minutes. Measurement of blood… Read More