Testing volume and data on positivity are useful for programme monitoring. Knowing the numbers of people tested annually and the modality of testing or uptake of self-tests is critical to commodity forecasting and staff resource planning. Positivity data among those tested who have received a result can help to validate the number of people reported as newly diagnosed through routine reporting systems and estimates of HIV prevalence from survey data. Finally, when disaggregated by age, sex, testing modality and HIV status, these data are useful in assessing the effectiveness of delivering HIV testing services and addressing gaps in various settings, contexts and populations.
In addition to programme monitoring activities, annual testing volumes and positivity rates are inputs into the UNAIDS/WHO model that estimates progress towards the first 95 (95% of people living with HIV know their HIV status). This model is used primarily in countries that have national surveys to measure the population’s historic testing coverage by HIV serostatus, but weak HIV case reporting systems (see Global AIDS Monitoring 2025 Indicator 2.1: People living with HIV who know their HIV status https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/global-aids-monitoring_en.pdf).
Definition:
The number of HIV tests conducted (testing volume) and the percentage of HIV-positive results returned to people (positivity) in the calendar year
Disaggregation:
0–14 years for children and 15 years and older by sex (men and women) for adults.
Testing modality (for all populations including Key Population— female sex workers and their clients, gay men and other men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, transgender people, and prisoners—services).
Community-level HIV testing services reporting:
Mobile testing (e.g., through vans or temporary testing facilities).
Voluntary counselling and testing centres (not within a health-facility setting).
Other community-based testing.
Facility-level testing:
Provider-initiated testing in clinics or emergency facilities.
Antenatal care clinics (including labour and delivery).
Voluntary counselling and testing (within a health-facility setting).
TB clinic (if available)
Family planning clinic.
Other facility-level testing.
Method of measurement
The numerator and denominator should be collected from HIV testing services programme registers, log books and reporting forms on a quarterly or annual basis. Reported data should be a count of the number of tests conducted where results were returned to a person and not the number of unique persons who tested at least once during the calendar year. For example, if a person who is HIV-positive tests once at a mobile testing van and then again at a clinic during the same calendar year, they should be counted twice in the numerator and twice in the denominator. In an alternative scenario, if a person tests negative at a voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) centre and then positive through provider-initiated testing, she should be reported once in the numerator and twice in the denominator.
Please note that only tests conducted where the results are returned to the person should be counted. Also, a person should only be counted as testing once in the numerator and the denominator, even if up to three different assays are performed to confirm an HIV-positive diagnosis according to the national testing algorithm.
M&E Framework:
Impact
Method of estimation:
-
Preferred data sources:
HIV testing services programme registers, log books and reporting forms
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