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HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care : Clinical protocols for the European ...

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1.3. Laboratory <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r examinations<br />

Table 3. Laboratory testing<br />

PATIENT EVALUATION AND ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT FOR ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS<br />

<strong>HIV</strong>-related testing:<br />

• <strong>HIV</strong> serological testing (typically an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or rapid blood test), followed<br />

by confirmatory test (typically western blot) (12)<br />

• CD4 cell count to determine <strong>the</strong> severity of immunodeficiency; in pregnant women CD4 % (13, 14)<br />

• viral load testing by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to determine level of viral replication a<br />

O<strong>the</strong>r infectious disease testing:<br />

Routine testing:<br />

• venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test <strong>for</strong> syphilis<br />

• serological tests <strong>for</strong> hepatitis C <strong>and</strong> B viruses (HCV <strong>and</strong> HBV) – i.e. HCV antibodies <strong>and</strong> hepatitis B surface<br />

antigen (HBsAg) b<br />

• toxoplasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) serological test <strong>and</strong> in<strong>for</strong>mation about risk of infection if negative<br />

If indicated:<br />

• vaginal, penile or anal (as appropriate) swab <strong>for</strong> gonorrhoea <strong>and</strong> Chlamydia trachomatis<br />

• Cryptococcus antigen titre when CD4 cell count is

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