Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study population by recruitment site/ laboratory and overall

Total

364

198 (54.4)

166 (45.4)

Age; median (IQR), years

36 (30–44.5)

39 (33–48)

32.5 (27–39)

< 0.01

Gender and pregnancy status (missing = 7)

< 0.01

 Men

111 (31.1)

64 (32.5)

47 (29.4)

 Non-pregnant women

231 (64.7)

132 (67.0)

99 (61.9)

 Pregnant women

15 (4.2)

1 (0.5)

14 (8.8)

Reason for VL test

< 0.01

 Pre-ART

59 (16.2)

4 (2.0)

55 (33.1)

 ART

305 (83.8)

194 (98.0)

111 (66.9)

Time on ART; median (IQR), years

5.0 (2.0–7.5)

6.2 (3.3–8.3)

2.9 (1.8–5.4)

< 0.01

VL values on the reference method; log₁₀ copies/mL

< 0.01

 < 1.3

236 (64.8)

150 (75.8)

86 (51.8)

 1.3–< 3.0

58 (15.9)

37 (18.7)

21 (12.7)

 3.0–< 4.0

17 (4.7)

5 (2.5)

12 (7.2)

 ≥ 4.0

53 (14.6)

6 (3.0)

47 (28.3)