Expert highlights importance AIDS drug monitoring

ZAMBIA: Expert highlights importance AIDS drug monitoring

JOHANNESBURG, 7 Mar 2005 (PLUSNEWS) - Zambia's University Teaching Hospital (UTH) has stressed the importance of CD4 tests for people using anti-AIDS drugs.

The test not only determines the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy in patients, but doctors can also tell how far HIV infection has progressed by keeping track of the number of CD4 cells in the bloodstream.

Dr Soka Nyirenda from the UTH department of medicine told a local newspaper, new Vision, he was concerned that less than 14 percent of the 4,025 people on treatment at UTH were returning for check-ups.

Nyirenda warned that those failing to undergo repeat testing could be exposed to the possibility of undetected drug resistance.

[ENDS]

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