Mixed-methods study compares VISITECT and PIMA CD4 testing accuracy in HIV care, indicating acceptance issues among nurses.
Key Points
This research aims to compare the diagnostic accuracy and acceptability of VISITECT CD4 with PIMA CD4 in the advanced HIV disease care package.
Mixed-methods study embedded in a community-based TB case-finding trial in South Africa.
609 participants with HIV received parallel testing of VISITECT and PIMA using one blood sample.
Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated alongside qualitative interviews and focus groups.
VISITECT had a sensitivity of 89.3% (95% CI 71.8-97.7%) and specificity of 91.2% (95% CI 88.6-93.4%).
PPV for VISITECT was 32.9% (95% CI 22.5-44.6%), with 76 (12.5%) having ≤200 cells/µl.
Both PWH and nurses agreed that point-of-care tests improve access, although nurses preferred PIMA for accuracy and usability.
Cite This Study
Human Sciences Research Council (2026) studied this question.