A Moving Target: Impacts of Lowering Viral Load Suppression Cutpoints on Progress Towards HIV Epidemic Control Goals
Rosen JG, Reynolds SJ, Galiwango RM, Kigozi G, Quinn TC, Ratmann O, Ndyanabo A, Nelson LJ, Nakigozi G, Nalugemwa M, Rucinski KB, Kennedy CE, Chang LW, Kagaayi J, Serwadda D, Grabowski MK
Redefining viral load suppression (VLS) using lower cutpoints could impact progress towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. We assessed impacts of lowering the VLS cutpoint on achieving the 95-95-95 VLS target in the Rakai Community Cohort Study. Population VLS fell from 86% to 84% and 76%, respectively, after lowering VLS cutpoints from <1,000 to <200 and <50 copies/mL. The fraction of viremic persons increased by 17% after lowering the VLS cutpoint from <1,000 to <200 copies/mL.