A simple algorithm for selecting cases to investigate acute and early HIV infections in low- and middle-income countries

Abstract We documented the outcome of an over 10-year effort to diagnose acute and early HIV infections (AEHI) in an Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinic with limited resources. Of a total of 132 cases, 119 HIV-RNA tests were performed from 2017–2020, 12 cases were identified, using a simple algorithm: risk exposure of six weeks or less before the visit and/or symptoms compatible with acute retroviral syndrome 7–30 days after exposure and/or undetermined 3rd generation rapid diagnostic test or serology. AEHI diagnoses varied from 2.4% among asymptomatic to 25% for undetermined serology cases using a simple screening applicable to different settings.