Publication Name	World Journal of Virology
Manuscript ID	111810
Country	United States

Category	Infectious Diseases
Manuscript Type	Meta-Analysis
Article Title	Human immunodeficiency virus recency testing coverage and partner-notification-services among people-living with human immunodeficiency virus in low- and middle-income countries
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Ibrahim Ahmed El-Imam, Timothy Antipas Peter, Hassan Fredrick Fussi, Zuhura Mbwana Ally, Hafidha Mhando Bakari, Mariam Salim Mbwana, Upendo Kayeke Chenya, Beatrice Kelvin Mpimo, Haji Mbwana Ally and Habib Omari Ramadhani
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Habib Omari Ramadhani, MD, PhD, Senior Researcher, Department of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States. homari@ihv.umaryland.edu
Key Words	Human immunodeficiency virus recency testing coverage; Rapid test for recent infection; Recent infection testing algorithm; Partner notification services; Misclassification; Recent infection surveillance; Low- and mid-income countries
Core Tip	This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes evidence from low- and middle-income countries on the implementation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-recency testing and its integration with partner notification services (PNS). The findings highlight high but uneven rapid testing for recent infection (RTRI) coverage, moderate RTRI-recent prevalence, and substantial diagnostic misclassification. One in every three recent infections was reclassified as long-term following a viral load confirmatory testing. While PNS demonstrated strong partners contact rates and high HIV yield, critical attrition occurred throughout the cascade. These results highlight the value of RITA-confirmed recency testing and suggest that recency-informed PNS could enhance HIV surveillance and epidemic control when guided by standardized protocols and supported by confirmatory testing.
Citation	Ahmed El-Imam IA, Peter TA, Fussi HF, Ally ZM, Bakari HM, Mbwana MS, Chenya UK, Mpimo BK, Ally HM, Ramadhani HO. Human immunodeficiency virus recency testing coverage and partner-notification-services among people-living with human immunodeficiency virus in low- and middle-income countries. World J Virol 2025; In press

Received	2025-07-10 06:10
Peer-Review Started	2025-07-10 06:10
To Make the First Decision
Return for Revision	2025-08-20 07:58
Revised	2025-08-28 06:05
Second Decision	2025-09-17 02:51
Accepted by Journal Editor-in-Chief
Accepted by Executive Editor-in-Chief	2025-09-17 08:38
Articles in Press	2025-09-17 08:38
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ISSN	2220-3249 (online)
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