Use of a Rapid HIV Home Test Prevents HIV Exposure in a High Risk Sample of Men Who Have Sex With Men

Abstract

The study assessed whether at-risk HIV-uninfected men who have sex with men (MSM) who never or rarely use condoms and have multiple partners would use a rapid, oral fluid, HIV home test (HT) to screen potential sexual partners. Participants received 16 HT kits, were monitored weekly for three months, and then interviewed in depth. Twenty-seven ethnically diverse MSM used HT kits before intercourse with approximately 100 partners in private and public spaces. Testing had high acceptability among ethnic minority participants. Ten tested individuals received HIV-antibody positive results. Seven were potential sexual partners, and three were acquaintances of the participants; six of the ten were unaware of their status. No sexual intercourse took place after positive tests. Very few problems occurred. Most participants strongly desired to continue using HT and to buy it freely. HT use results in detection of previously unknown infections. Making HT available within networks where high-risk sexual practices are common may be a cost-efficient and effective prevention method.

Risk Patterns Preceding Diagnosis Among Newly HIV-Diagnosed Men Who Have Sex with Men in New York City

“…These men may therefore represent a prime target for innovative prevention strategies such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, 62,63 and may be especially receptive to the technical advances and new approaches in HIV testing, including use of more frequent routine testing, 12 test and treat, 64 and in-home testing. 65 Furthermore, while the need to conduct research on high risk men prior to an HIV diagnosis is critical, there is also a need to understand the risk trajectories of these men in the months following an HIV infection, as they adapt or fail to adapt to the HIV diagnosis and engage in HIV medical care. The results of this study underscore the importance of further research about the connections between perceived HIV risk, HIV testing utilization, and HIV-related risk behavior pre-HIV diagnosis.…”

Feasibility of using GrindrTM to distribute HIV self-test kits to men who have sex with men in Los Angeles, California

“…13 Although concerns about test kit affordability have been raised, HIV self-tests have been found to be acceptable in high-risk communities. 14,15 In early 2014, we piloted a program using GrindrÔ to promote free access to HIV self-test kits. Participants could choose kits delivered through the US mail, vouchers redeemable at Walgreens ® community pharmacies or access a local vending machine.…”

HIV Self-Testing in Resource-Limited Settings: Regulatory and Policy Considerations

“…Pilot studies in Malawi and Kenya have demonstrated generally high acceptability among health workers and the general populations [11,12], along with high accuracy of self-testing with HIV RDTs that use oral fluid, when combined with a demonstration step and illustrated instructions [11,16,17]. In the USA, France and Australia, acceptability of targeted HIVST is reportedly high among men who have sex with men [19][20][21]. There have been only limited studies on unsupervised HIVST in resource-limited settings [8,12].…”