Table 5

Frequency of all tests included in the NHLS National HIV Cohort in three time periods, May 2004–April 2018

Name of testUse in HIV care2004–20082008–20132013–2018All time periods
Alanine aminotransferaseMeasure of liver injury and determining choice of ART1 970 1389 301 7239 176 99620 448 857
CD4 countART eligibility and disease progression3 599 59415 483 37617 578 41536 661 385
Serum cryptococcal antigenTo detect and prevent cryptococcal meningitis1771 3741 017 9031 089 294
Creatinine clearanceMeasure of kidney function and determining choice of ART28806 113 18225 422 40431 538 466
HIV ELISA confirmatoryHIV diagnostic test primarily in infants and young children663 518820 322370 4651 854 305
HIV ELISA screeningHIV diagnostic test primarily in infants and young children1 129 2491 448 212639 5283 216 989
HaemoglobinMeasure of overall health3 841 09012 318 39914 260 74830 420 237
HIV PCRHIV diagnostic test primarily used for HIV diagnosis in infants39 706109 079108 212256 997
HIV RNA viral loadMonitoring efficacy of ART therapy1 120 8216 716 43018 922 45426 759 705
Total12 367 01352 382 09787 497 125152 246 235

  • ART, antiretroviral therapy; NHLS, National Health Laboratory Service.