Trial Outcomes & Findings for Simplifying Treatment and Monitoring for HIV (STREAM HIV) (NCT NCT04341779)

NCT ID: NCT04341779

Last Updated: 2026-02-19

Results Overview

We will measure viral load by a laboratory-based reference assay, performed by the South African National Health Laboratory Services. Viral suppression will be defined as a viral load \<200 copies/mL. This outcome will also include retention in care.

Recruitment status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

539 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

72 weeks after ART initiation

Results posted on

2026-02-19

Participant Flow

The initial enrollment was planned for 540. However, one person was considered ineligible after enrollment. Therefore, this person was not enrolled per-protocol.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Intervention Arm
Point-of-care urine adherence testing and Point-of-care viral load testing. Detailed: Monthly urine TFV testing with adherence counselling for the first 5 months; POC VL testing at Month 6 and 12 with reflex urine TFV testing for VL \>200 copies/mL and HIV drug resistance testing if TFV test indicated adherence. Point-of-care test results were provided to participants on the same day as specimen collection, if/when possible.
Standard-of-care Arm
Without POC urine adherence testing and POC viral load testing. Detailed: routine adherence counseling and lab-based viral load testing.
Overall Study
STARTED
270
269
Overall Study
COMPLETED
270
269
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Intervention Arm
n=270 Participants
Point-of-care urine adherence testing and Point-of-care viral load testing. Detailed: Monthly urine TFV testing with adherence counselling for the first 5 months; POC VL testing at Month 6 and 12 with reflex urine TFV testing for VL \>200 copies/mL and HIV drug resistance testing if TFV test indicated adherence. Point-of-care viral load testing and tenofovir adherence testing: Point-of-care testing of HIV viral load and tenofovir, and providing same day results to participants
Standard-of-care Arm
n=269 Participants
Without POC urine adherence testing and POC viral load testing. Detailed: routine adherence counseling and lab-based viral load testing.
Total
n=539 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
33.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.9 • n=270 Participants
33.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.1 • n=269 Participants
33.4 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.5 • n=539 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
165 Participants
n=270 Participants
152 Participants
n=269 Participants
317 Participants
n=539 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
105 Participants
n=270 Participants
117 Participants
n=269 Participants
222 Participants
n=539 Participants
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
0 Participants
Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 72 weeks after ART initiation

Population: Number of study participants who have data for the comparison of viral load suppression (\<200 copies/ml) and retention in care at 72 weeks after ART initiation.

We will measure viral load by a laboratory-based reference assay, performed by the South African National Health Laboratory Services. Viral suppression will be defined as a viral load \<200 copies/mL. This outcome will also include retention in care.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Intervention Arm
n=270 Participants
Point-of-care urine adherence testing and Point-of-care viral load testing. Detailed: Monthly urine TFV testing with adherence counselling for the first 5 months; POC VL testing at Month 6 and 12 with reflex urine TFV testing for VL \>200 copies/mL and HIV drug resistance testing if TFV test indicated adherence. Point-of-care test results were provided to participants on the same day as specimen collection, if/when possible.
Standard-of-care Arm
n=268 Participants
Without POC urine adherence testing and POC viral load testing. Detailed: routine adherence counseling and lab-based viral load testing.
Number of Participants With Viral Load Suppression (<200 Copies/ml) and Retained in Care at 72 Weeks
186 Participants
167 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 72 weeks after ART initiation

Population: Note: We were not able to collect a dried blood spot (DBS) specimen on people who were not retained in care or refused to provide a sample. Therefore, the denominator reflects testing on those people where were retained in the study and able to provide a fingerprick blood sample.

We will measure tenofovir-diphosphate concentrations in 3mm dried blood spots using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Intervention Arm
n=223 Participants
Point-of-care urine adherence testing and Point-of-care viral load testing. Detailed: Monthly urine TFV testing with adherence counselling for the first 5 months; POC VL testing at Month 6 and 12 with reflex urine TFV testing for VL \>200 copies/mL and HIV drug resistance testing if TFV test indicated adherence. Point-of-care test results were provided to participants on the same day as specimen collection, if/when possible.
Standard-of-care Arm
n=212 Participants
Without POC urine adherence testing and POC viral load testing. Detailed: routine adherence counseling and lab-based viral load testing.
Tenofovir Diphosphate Concentration Level >=700 Fmol/Punch in Dried Blood Spots
148 Participants
0
146 Participants
0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 24 and 72 weeks after ART initiation

We will assess acceptability of point-of-care tenofovir and viral load testing by conducting semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with study participants.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 24 and 72 weeks after ART initiation

We will conduct a micro-costing of the costs associated with point-of-care tenofovir and viral load testing and will estimate the cost-effectiveness of the intervention using an existing individual-based, stochastic HIV model for KwaZulu-Natal for simulating health and economic outcomes.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

Adverse Events

Intervention Arm

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 5 deaths

Standard-of-care Arm

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 5 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Jennifer Morton, Project Manager

University of Washington

Phone: 206-520-3820

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place