Improving the quality of HIV-related point-of-care testing: Ensuring the reliability and accuracy of test results

HIV-related point-of-care testing technologies have become widely available in last the few years and can potentially play a major role in achieving the UNAIDS 90–90–90 targets through increasing access to diagnostics in low- and middle-income countries. However, challenges remain regarding the appropriate use of point-of-care testing to ensure accurate patient results. Maintaining a high quality of testing while increasing access is critical for better patient care.

This handbook, produced by the World Health Organisation, has been created to address the weaknesses identified in existing point-of-care testing programmes and to assist service providers in adhering to a new set of minimum standards that promote and ensure quality assurance for HIV-related point-of-care testing.

This handbook describes the quality assurance cycle, a three-phased process developed to assist health-care providers and stakeholders in planning, implementing and sustaining quality assurance for HIV-related point-of-care testing.

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