Bibliographic information

GuidelineConsolidated guidelines on differentiated HIV testing services.
Year of Publication2024
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization

Recommendation

Maintained

Lay providers who are trained and supervised can independently conduct safe and effective HIV testing using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs)

Recommended in favor

Strong

Notes and Remarks

Some countries may need to update polices and regulations, or review how they are interpreted, to enable other non-clinical health professionals and trained lay providers to offer HIV testing services. See further WHO guidance on harnessing the full potential of community health workers, including lay providers. In test for triage, a trained provider performs a single rapid diagnostic test and then facilitates linkage to appropriate further testing and services depending on the test result. In the context of HIV, anyone who has an initial reactive test for triage is then promptly linked to further testing for confirmation of HIV status. This strategy is used for self-testing and can also be used to expand testing in communities by lay providers

Also Featured In

This recommendation also appears in the following guidelines:

Originally Developed
Guideline

Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services

Year2015
InstitutionWHO
Guideline

Consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection: recommendations for a public health approach

Year2016
InstitutionWHO
Guideline

Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services, 2019

Year2020
InstitutionWHO
Guideline

Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, testing, treatment, service delivery and monitoring: recommendations for a public health approach

Year2021
InstitutionWHO
Guideline

Consolidated guidelines on HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations

Year2022
InstitutionWHO