Monitoring AIDS treatment by regular physical examination is nearly as effective as advanced
laboratory tests
25 April: GENEVA -- When millions of HIV-infected people in poor countries began receiving advanced drug therapies, critics worried that patient care would suffer because few high tech laboratories were available to guide treatments. But according to a study being published in Lancet Friday, 25 April, these concerns are as yet unfounded. In fact, the study indicates that when clinicians use simple physical signs of deteriorating health -- such as weight loss or fever -- these doctors can provide therapies almost as effective those relying on the most advanced laboratory analysis.