Point-of-Care Viral Load Monitoring Technologies for HIV Management in Resource-Limited Settings

Kato Jumba K.

Faculty of Science and Technology Kampala International University Uganda

                                                           ABSTRACT
Viral load monitoring was the cornerstone of effective HIV treatment, guiding antiretroviral therapy optimization, identifying treatment failure, and preventing the emergence of drug resistance. However, access to conventional laboratory-based viral load testing remains limited in many resource-constrained settings due to infrastructural, logistical, and economic barriers. This narrative review critically examined point-of-care viral load monitoring technologies as an alternative strategy for improving HIV management in resource-limited settings. A review of peer-reviewed scientific literature was conducted, synthesizing evidence on the biochemical principles, clinical performance, and implementation considerations of point-of-care viral load technologies. Point-of-care viral load platforms offered rapid turnaround times, reduced dependency on centralized laboratories, and improved linkage between diagnostic results and clinical decision-making. These technologies demonstrated acceptable analytical performance for routine HIV monitoring and have the potential to enhance treatment adherence assessment and early detection of virologic failure. Nevertheless, challenges related to cost, supply chains, quality assurance, and workforce capacity continue to influence their scalability and sustainability. Point-of-care viral load monitoring represented a transformative approach to HIV care in resource-limited settings, provided that implementation is supported by robust health systems integration and policy alignment.

Keywords: HIV viral load, Point-of-care diagnostics, Resource-limited settings, Antiretroviral therapy, Global health.

CITE AS: Kato Jumba K. (2026). Point-of-Care Viral Load MonitoringTechnologies for HIV Management in Resource-Limited Settings. NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES,6(1): 68-72.
https://doi.org/10.59298/NIJEP/2026/616872