Table 1.
Laboratory Monitoring Strategies
| Monitoring Strategy | Laboratory Monitoring Frequency |
|
|---|---|---|
| CD4 Testing Frequency (mo) | Viral Load Testing Frequency (mo) | |
| Biannual CD4 (standard of care) | 6 | … |
| Biannual CD4 + biannual VL | 6 | 6 |
| Biannual CD4 + annual VL | 6 | 12 |
| Annual CD4 + annual VL | 12 | 12 |
| Biannual VL | 24 | 6 |
| Annual VL | 24 | 12 |
| Adaptive: biannual then annual CD4 and VLa | 6 then 12 | 6 then 12 |
| Biannual CD4 + biannual then annual VL (World Health Organization)b | 6 | 6 then 12 |
| Adaptive: biannual then annual VLa | 24 | 6 then 12 |
| Biannual CD4 + VL to confirm failure | 6 | To confirm failure only |
| Annual CD4 + VL to confirm failure | 12 | To confirm failure only |
Abbreviation: VL, viral load.
a In “adaptive” strategies, monitoring frequency decreased from biannual to annual in patients virologically suppressed after 1 year.
b The World Health Organization recommends biannual CD4 monitoring with VL testing 6 months after initiation and every 12 months thereafter.