Pooled Testing for Virologic Monitoring?

Viral-load testing is critical for detecting HIV treatment failure but is rarely used in resource-limited settings because of the high costs and the requirement for sophisticated laboratory infrastructure. Pooled HIV RNA testing might be a viable alternative, according to a recent study from South Africa. Such testing has previously proven accurate and efficient for screening blood donors, diagnosing acute HIV infection, and detecting virologic failure in patients on antiretroviral therapy.

In the first part of the study, the researchers sought to develop criteria for identifying individuals who had a low probability of virologic failure (<10%) and would thus be eligible for pooled testing. They retrospectively analyzed information that is r…