Applicability and usability of eLABS for HIV viral load management in rural Mozambique

Mobile laboratory information systems can strengthen HIV viral load (HIV-VL) testing in low-resource settings by improving sample tracking and result reporting. This study evaluated the applicability and usability of eLABS, a smartphone-based workflow system, for HIV-VL result management in Govuro District, Inhambane Province, Mozambique. A retrospective analysis was conducted between February 2023 and January 2024 to compare one eLABS site with three non-eLABS sites. We assessed usability, turnaround time (TAT), and viral suppression rates. The records included 643 from the eLABS site and 2,097 from non-eLABS sites. The System Usability Score (SUS) was 77, which is above the benchmark threshold, and the median electronic result acknowledgment time was less than 1 day. The mean TAT was slightly longer in the eLABS site (25 days vs. 22 days), mainly due to interoperability and infrastructure challenges. Viral suppression rates were higher in the eLABS facility (87.2% vs. 82.0%; OR 1.50, 95% CI: 1.14–1.98, χ 2 = 8.95, p = 0.00028). Overall, eLABS demonstrated strong user acceptability and effective applicability for HIV-VL management, showing potential to improve program outcomes despite systemic challenges.