Improving the clinic-laboratory-interface in the context of HIV diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Laboratory support is central to clinical medicine. The present review focuses on the health systems strengthening needs of the clinic-laboratory-interface (CLI) in developing countries within the context of HIV diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring

RECENT FINDINGS:

Although significant improvements have been made in reducing error rates in the analytical phase of pathology services within laboratories, there remain substantial deficits in both the preanalytic and postanalytic phases of the entire value chain that require strengthening. Recent interventions have largely aimed at improving the CLI focus through technological advancements. Although these are important, addressing CLI deficiencies within the context of the World Health Organization’s health systems strengthening building blocks has been relatively neglected, and data are very limited in resource-limited countries.

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