Teste de carga viral HIV (HIVVL) realizado no laboratório do Centro de Saúde da Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (Lab. CS-UEM).

Abstract

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continues to be one of the biggest public health problems. AIDS is a disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Individuals with AIDS have a range of clinical manifestations from acute to severe, the latter being associated with patient death. Therefore, in order to ensure the best efficacy of antiretroviral treatment, periodic monitoring of the patient is necessary. In 2013, the World Health Organization recommended the use of viral load tests as an effective way of monitoring these AIDS patients. Viral load determines the rate of adherence to treatment as well as the resistance of the virus to drugs. The objective of this internship was to learn about the HIV viral load tests (HIVVL) performed in the laboratory of the Eduardo Mondlane University health center (Lab. CSUEM), from the reception of samples, screening, registration in the SIL (Laboratory Information System), storage of samples, processing and issuing of results, the equipment used in viral load. During the period from April to September 2019 that I was interning at the Lab. CS-UEM, I learned how to use the essential equipment in determining viral load, such as Cobas ampliprep and Cobas taqman. The internship was very useful because it allowed me to acquire the practical part of the theoretical knowledge acquired during the classes. However, there are important aspects that need to be improved during the internship period in monitoring, one of the main ones being the long waiting period for results, causing a delay in patient care, interaction between the laboratory and the patient, which is important because it helps the patient in following up on treatment, issues such as the delay in results and the reasons.