SMARThivPack: a complexity free and cost effective "three tests" combo kit model for improving HIV patients monitoring standards in resource poor settings.

Abstract

We propose a second method at an implementation level with cost and complexity reductions for monitoring HIV patients in resource-limited settings. The model is SMARThivPack, a "three tests" combo kit. Cost and complexity reductions of HIV patient monitoring technologies were described in a first model (at a technology development stage) proposed earlier. In developed countries, HIV patient clinical management programs comport three laboratory tests containing CD4 count, viral load measurement and pharmaco-resistance testing. In most developing countries only CD4 count is performed without the other two tests. Cost and complexity of required technologies are the major challenges to the developing world to meeting the "three tests" standard. SMARThivPack model achieves the "three tests" standard in the developing world by optimizing technology choice as to favour cross-use of equipments, thereby reducing equipment cost at the laboratory implementation level. Equipment cross use also reduces complexity by reducing training time, promoting specialization and substantiating experience in equipment use. The second level cost and complexity reductions model sets the grounds for a third level, global coordination cost and complexity reductions model.