Does point-of-care (POC) CD4 testing reduce losses from care between HIV diagnosis and ART initiation among HIV-positive youth in Khayelitsha, South Africa?

Further studies with longer periods of patient follow-up are required to determine whether youth who are aware of their ART eligibility at HIV diagnosis return to care earlier than those who are not. Additional strategies to POC CD4 testing on the day of HIV diagnosis need to be piloted to increase youth returning for further care and support. This study is limited by a small sample size and was conducted within the arena of routine patient care. It has several limitations due to contextual changes between the two study periods. During the POC CD4 study period (Group B):