Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) has announced that HIV confirmatory testing in the Philippines has become more efficient and accessible, with 168 rapid HIV diagnostic algorithm (rHIVda) laboratories now operational across the country.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DOH highlighted in a public advisory that previously, confirmatory HIV test results could take from seven days to up to three weeks. Now, the results can be obtained in just one day. The rHIVda is utilized to confirm reactive results from initial HIV screening tests, which is a necessary step before a person can be officially diagnosed and begin treatment services.
The DOH emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for HIV, noting that the certified rHIVda confirmatory laboratories are strategically distributed across different regions. This development is part of the National HIV, AIDS, and STI Prevention and Control Program's strategy to enhance case finding and improve HIV testing capacity.
The DOH aims to meet the Philippines' 95-95-95 health target by 2030, which includes having 95 percent of people living with HIV aware of their status, 95 percent of those aware receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95 percent of those on ART achieving viral suppression. The list of rHIVda sites is available at: bit.ly/rHIVdaSitesPH.
