Making HIV testing work at the point of care in South Africa: a qualitative study of diagnostic practices.

Background: Point of care testing promises to reduce delays in diagnosing and initiating treatment for infectious diseases such as Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV). In South Africa, decentralized HIV testing with rapid tests offers important lessons for point of care testing programs. Yet, little is known about the strategies of providers and clients to make HIV testing successful in settings short of equipment, human resources and space.

Compounding diagnostic delays: a qualitative study of point-of-care testing in South Africa.

Objectives: Successful point-of-care (POC) testing (completion of test-and-treat cycle in one patient encounter) has immense potential to reduce diagnostic and treatment delays, and improve patient and public health outcomes. We explored what tests are done and how in public/private, rural/urban hospitals and clinics in South Africa and whether they can ensure successful POC testing.

Methods: This qualitative research study examined POC testing across major diseases in Cape Town, Durban and Eastern Cape.