Table 2.
Current status of blood‐based viral load sample transportation in Zambia
| HIV treatment facility characteristics | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Has facility transported viral load samples in 2017, n (%) (n=1178)a | |
| Yes | 148 (13) |
| No | 1030 (87) |
| Viral load volume, n (%) (n=148) | |
| High volume (expected weekly 2020 volumes >10/week) | 53 (36) |
| Low volume (expected weekly 2020 volumes <10/week) | 95 (64) |
| Facility type, n (%) (n=148) | |
| Level 2 provincial hospital | 5 (3) |
| Level 1 district hospital | 44 (30) |
| Urban health centre | 25 (17) |
| Rural health centre | 73 (49) |
| Health post | 1 (1) |
| Type of transport used, n (%) (n=148) | |
| Vehicle | 94 (63) |
| Motorbike | 44 (30) |
| Public transport | 6 (4) |
| Viral load done onsite | 3 (2) |
| Boat | 1 (1) |
| Frequency of blood sample transport, n (%), (n=148) | |
| Daily | 16 (11) |
| Twice weekly | 10 (7) |
| Weekly | 59 (40) |
| Twice monthly | 10 (7) |
| Monthly | 28 (19) |
| Irregular | 25 (16) |
a
Data missing on viral load sample transport from 306 health facilities. These 306 health facilities were distributed across all 10 provinces.