Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a global epidemic with growing numbers of people on highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) programmes. Effectiveness of treatment needs to be monitored to ensure the uncompromised well being of patients. This is currently done using both Viral Load (VL) and CD4 cell counts for HAART initiation and follow-up. Although VL is the best predictor of disease progression, it is often too expensive, for monitoring patients in resource-limited settings. There is thus a need for a cheaper, more accessible alternative to monitor long term patient...