Putting HIV Treatment to the Test, 1st Ed, 2013

Routine evaluation of a person’s HIV viral load is important in identifying who needs help in adhering to HIV treatment.  Viral load can help prevent viral transmission, because people with ‘undetectable’ viral load have a very low risk of transmitting HIV. Viral load is a much more accurate way than the commonly used CD4 count to determine how well someone is doing on treatment, potentially an avoiding unnecessary switch to more expensive second- or third-line treatment. The World Health Organization now strongly recommends implementing routine viral load monitoring; however, current tests are expensive and complex for remote and resource-limited settings.

Our 2013 report, Putting HIV Treatment to the Test, looks at these issues on a number of viral load and point of care CD4 diagnostic tests.

Additional publications in the Undetectable report series are available here.

Learn more about MSF’s work to improve access to lifesaving HIV treatment.