Introduction
The success of
HIV
treatment programmes globally has resulted in children with perinatally acquired
HIV
reaching adolescence in large numbers. The number of adolescents living with
HIV
is growing further due to persisting high
HIV
incidence rates among adolescents in low‐ and middle‐income settings, particularly in sub‐Saharan Africa. Although expanding access to
HIV
viral load monitoring is necessary to achieve the 90‐90‐90 targets across the
HIV
care continuum, implementation is incomplete. We discuss the rationale for prioritizing viral load monitoring among adolescents and the associated challenges.
Discussion
Adolescents with
HIV
are a complex group to treat successfully due to extensive exposure to antiretroviral therapy for those with perinatally acquired
HIV
and the challenges in sustained medication adherence in this age group. Given the high risk of treatment failure among adolescents and the limited drug regimens available in limited resource settings,
HIV
viral load monitoring in adolescents could prevent unnecessary and costly switches to second‐line therapy in virologically suppressed adolescents. Because adolescents living with
HIV
may be heavily treatment experienced, have suboptimal treatment adherence, or may be on second or even third‐line therapy, viral load testing would allow clinicians to make informed decisions about increased counselling and support for adolescents together with the need to maintain or switch therapeutic regimens.
Conclusions
Given scarce resources, prioritization of viral load testing among groups with a high risk of virological failure may be required. Adolescents have disproportionately high rates of virological failure, and targeting this age group for viral load monitoring may provide valuable lessons to inform broader scale‐up.