Expanding Access to Point-of-Care Early Infant Diagnosis: Implementation Approaches and Testing Strategies

Overview

Ending pediatric AIDS and achieving the Super-Fast-Track targets for pediatric HIV requires intensified efforts to rapidly identify and treat HIV-positive infants and young children. In 2017, only 51 percent of all HIV-exposed infants were tested for HIV within the recommended first two months of life, and only 52 percent of children living with HIV received lifesaving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Without access to timely diagnosis and treatment, up to 30 percent of HIV-infected children will die by their first birthday, and 50 percent will die by their second birthday.