HIV Initial Assessment and Routine Follow-up: What Tests to Order and Why

Daniel A Solomon

doi:10.1016/j.idc.2019.05.001

HIV Initial Assessment and Routine Follow-up: What Tests to Order and Why

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2019 Sep;33(3):647-662. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2019.05.001. Epub 2019 Jun 22.

Author

Daniel A Solomon¹

Affiliation

¹ Division of Infectious Disease, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, PBB 4A, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: dasolomon@bwh.harvard.edu.

PMID: 31239091
DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2019.05.001

Abstract

Laboratory tests are an important tool in the care of patients with human immunodeficiency virus. An organized approach to laboratory ordering helps clinicians to understand the utility of each test, ensure a comprehensive evaluation, and decrease use of unnecessary tests. Tests are organized around the following goals of care: confirm the diagnosis, assess for immune suppression, guide antiretroviral therapy, screen for coinfections and latent infections, monitor response to therapy, and provide preventative care. This article reviews appropriate testing for patients with human immunodeficiency virus to accomplish these goals with a focus on how each test is useful in clinical practice.

Keywords: Assessment; Diagnosis; Evaluation; Follow-up; HIV; Laboratory; Management; Testing.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Coinfection / diagnosis
Coinfection / drug therapy
Diagnostic Tests, Routine / methods*
Disease Management*
Drug Monitoring / methods*
HIV Infections / diagnosis*
HIV Infections / drug therapy*
Humans