• Ruth Raymond Ngowi and Gasto Frumence.
• Health Quality Assurance Unit, Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, P. O. Box 743, Dodoma, Tanzania.
• Afr Health Sci. 2022 Jun 1; 22 (2): 465346-53.

BackgroundHIV rapid testing services is one among key interventions in the controlling of HIV/AIDS. Despite availability of quality standards, the quality of HIV rapid testing services remains questionable since non-laboratory testers are allowed to conduct testing while they are not specialized in providing testing services.ObjectiveTo evaluate the compliance to the quality standards of HIV rapid testing services provided by non-laboratory testers in Makete District, Tanzania.MethodsAn explanatory descriptive study employing quantitative approach of data collection was used. An observation of 23 non-laboratory testers performing HIV rapid tests, observation of HIV testing points and documents review was done in 23 testing points to collect data. Data were analyzed using a programmed excel sheet and a three-point scale was used to determine the level of compliance to quality standards.ResultsAnalysis shows that out of 23 testing points visited, the level of compliance to quality standards was lower for 22 (95.6%) testing points and moderate in 1 (4.4%) testing point. None of the testing point was highly complied to quality standards for HIV rapid testing services.ConclusionThe quality of HIV rapid testing services provided by non-laboratory testers is below the established quality standards for HIV rapid testing services.© 2022 Ngowi RR et al.

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