Implementation of rapid saliva tests for hiv in the Republic of Tajikistan

Abstract

Aim. To study the effectiveness of improving the accessibility of testing for key populations by introducing a new method of rapid HIV testing by pericardial swabs in the Republic of Tajikistan.

Materials and methods. Analysis of the normative legal documents of the Republic of Tajikistan in the field of HIV / AIDS and statistical processing of materials from the State Institution “Republican Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS”.

Results. The article presents the results of the analysis of the recommendations of international legal documents, in particular, the materials of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, UNAIDS, and the State Institution “Republican Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS” on the introduction of a new method of rapid HIV testing through saliva tests. This method made it possible to expand the coverage of testing for a vulnerable group of the population, which for any reason refused to be tested in existing medical institutions. In the period up to March 2018, a total of 18,849 beneficiaries were tested. Of the total number of tested, 739 cases were identified with a positive result on the first test. Of these, 484 cases were confirmed based on the Republican Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS, of which 403 cases were confirmed as newly diagnosed.

Conclusion. Rapid saliva testing for HIV among key populations, such as sexual and injecting partners, is highly effective and affordable. Patients, without any fear, agreed to undergo testing. The high sensitivity and specificity of the tests reduce the number of patients with “false positive” and “false negative” results. Ease of use, safety, and painless testing procedure led to the fact that the method was successfully introduced in a short time both among government institutions and among public organizations that work towards the prevention of HIV infections.