IAPAC Guidelines on Optimizing the HIV Care Continuum Recommend ‘Test and Start’ Irrespective of CD4 Count

published on September 30, 2015 in IAPAC

PARIS (September 30, 2015) – The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) today announced its Guidelines for Optimizing the HIV Care Continuum for Adults and Adolescents, among whose 36 evidence - based recommendations is the immediate offer of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to people who are diagnosed as HIV positive, irrespective of CD4 count.

IAPAC President/CEO José M. Zuniga, PhD, MPH, stressed the urgency of demanding rapid uptake of the “test and start” recommendation in order to ensure that millions of people living with HIV (PLHIV) previously denied ART can finally benefit from ART’s therapeutic and preventive benefits. According to HIVPolicyWatch.org, only nine countries around the world currently recommend “test and start. ” In fact, 42 countries currently recommend ART at the 2013 World Health Organization (WHO) initiation CD4 count threshold of <500 cells/mm³, and 47 other countries recommend pre - 2013 thresholds of <350, <300, <250, or <200 cells/mm³.

“Ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 – a goal contained in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) announced last week at the United Nations General Assembly – require s that we use every tool at our disposal, including life - saving and - enhancing ART, without further delay,” said Zuniga. “With the science and evidence - based normative guidance firmly behind us, we have a moral obligation to achieving the end of AIDS by leveraging the therapeutic and preventive effects of ART to make AIDS - related deaths and new HIV infections exceedingly rare.

”Michel Sidibé, MEcon, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) applauded the new IAPAC guidelines for recommending immediate access to ART irrespective of CD4 count upon an HIV - positive diagnosis, as well for offering guidance about optimizing the delivery of a full range of services across the HIV care continuum.

“UNAIDS applauds the initiative of IAPAC to develop and release their new Guidelines for Optimizing the HIV Care Continuum for Adults and Adolescents in their effort to provide guidance to service providers,” said Sidibé. “The scientific evidence is clear – ensuring people diagnosed with HIV have immediate access to antiretroviral medicines gives people the opportunity to lead healthier lives and achieve viral suppression. Immediate access to ART will also help us reach our prevention and treatment goals, putting us on the fast - track to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.”

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IAPAC Guidelines on Optimizing the HIV Care Continuum Recommend ‘Test and Start’ Irrespective of CD4 Count

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