Are participants in a street-based HIV testing program able to perform their own rapid test and interpret the results?
OBJECTIVE: Availability of over-the-counter rapid HIV tests could improve access to testing those reluctant or unable to use current services. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of HIV self-testing using a finger-stick whole-blood rapid test (Determine™ HIV Combo) to detect both antigen and antibo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2012-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3466298?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1811271857011163136 |
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| author | Luis de la Fuente María Elena Rosales-Statkus Juan Hoyos José Pulido Sara Santos María José Bravo Gregorio Barrio Sonia Fernández-Balbuena María José Belza Madrid Rapid HIV Testing Group |
| author_facet | Luis de la Fuente María Elena Rosales-Statkus Juan Hoyos José Pulido Sara Santos María José Bravo Gregorio Barrio Sonia Fernández-Balbuena María José Belza Madrid Rapid HIV Testing Group |
| author_sort | Luis de la Fuente |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVE: Availability of over-the-counter rapid HIV tests could improve access to testing those reluctant or unable to use current services. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of HIV self-testing using a finger-stick whole-blood rapid test (Determine™ HIV Combo) to detect both antigen and antibody. METHODS: Before being tested, 313 participants in a street-based testing program were given adapted instructions and a test kit, and performed the self-test without supervision. These participants, together with another 207 who performed supervised self-testing, received additional instructions on how to interpret the test results shown in six colour photos and filled out a questionnaire. Logistic regression and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: About 8.0% (95%CI:4.8%-11.2%) obtained an invalid self-test. An invalid result was inversely associated with male participants who had sex with men (OR=0.3;95%CI:0.1-1.0). Of the 3111 photos interpreted,4.9% (95%CI:4.1-5.7) were incorrect. Only 1.1% (95%CI:0.3-1.8) of the positive results were interpreted as negative. Age 30 or older (OR=2.1; 95%CI:1.2-3.7), having been born in Latin America (OR=1.6; 95%CI:1.1-2.2),and not having university education (OR=2.1;95%CI:1.2-3.7) were associated with misinterpreting test results in the GEE. Participant's perceptions of both their proficiency when conducting the test and interpretation were related with actual outcomes. Most participants (83.9%) were more motivated than before to use the self-test in the future, and 51.7% would pay >10 Euros for the test if it was sold in pharmacies. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study showing that blood-based self-testing with current technology is feasible in HIV-negative participants demanding the test and without prior training or supervision. Bearing in mind that it was conducted under difficult weather conditions and using a complex kit, over-the-counter tests could be a feasible option to complement current diagnostic strategies. More studies are needed to accommodate technology, minimise interpretation mistakes and provide on-line support. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:28:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-943a1accc9644b8c95347a0f6381fdc2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:28:33Z |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-943a1accc9644b8c95347a0f6381fdc22022-12-22T03:14:02ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032012-01-01710e4655510.1371/journal.pone.0046555Are participants in a street-based HIV testing program able to perform their own rapid test and interpret the results?Luis de la FuenteMaría Elena Rosales-StatkusJuan HoyosJosé PulidoSara SantosMaría José BravoGregorio BarrioSonia Fernández-BalbuenaMaría José BelzaMadrid Rapid HIV Testing GroupOBJECTIVE: Availability of over-the-counter rapid HIV tests could improve access to testing those reluctant or unable to use current services. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of HIV self-testing using a finger-stick whole-blood rapid test (Determine™ HIV Combo) to detect both antigen and antibody. METHODS: Before being tested, 313 participants in a street-based testing program were given adapted instructions and a test kit, and performed the self-test without supervision. These participants, together with another 207 who performed supervised self-testing, received additional instructions on how to interpret the test results shown in six colour photos and filled out a questionnaire. Logistic regression and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: About 8.0% (95%CI:4.8%-11.2%) obtained an invalid self-test. An invalid result was inversely associated with male participants who had sex with men (OR=0.3;95%CI:0.1-1.0). Of the 3111 photos interpreted,4.9% (95%CI:4.1-5.7) were incorrect. Only 1.1% (95%CI:0.3-1.8) of the positive results were interpreted as negative. Age 30 or older (OR=2.1; 95%CI:1.2-3.7), having been born in Latin America (OR=1.6; 95%CI:1.1-2.2),and not having university education (OR=2.1;95%CI:1.2-3.7) were associated with misinterpreting test results in the GEE. Participant's perceptions of both their proficiency when conducting the test and interpretation were related with actual outcomes. Most participants (83.9%) were more motivated than before to use the self-test in the future, and 51.7% would pay >10 Euros for the test if it was sold in pharmacies. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study showing that blood-based self-testing with current technology is feasible in HIV-negative participants demanding the test and without prior training or supervision. Bearing in mind that it was conducted under difficult weather conditions and using a complex kit, over-the-counter tests could be a feasible option to complement current diagnostic strategies. More studies are needed to accommodate technology, minimise interpretation mistakes and provide on-line support.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3466298?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Luis de la Fuente María Elena Rosales-Statkus Juan Hoyos José Pulido Sara Santos María José Bravo Gregorio Barrio Sonia Fernández-Balbuena María José Belza Madrid Rapid HIV Testing Group Are participants in a street-based HIV testing program able to perform their own rapid test and interpret the results? PLoS ONE |
| title | Are participants in a street-based HIV testing program able to perform their own rapid test and interpret the results? |
| title_full | Are participants in a street-based HIV testing program able to perform their own rapid test and interpret the results? |
| title_fullStr | Are participants in a street-based HIV testing program able to perform their own rapid test and interpret the results? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Are participants in a street-based HIV testing program able to perform their own rapid test and interpret the results? |
| title_short | Are participants in a street-based HIV testing program able to perform their own rapid test and interpret the results? |
| title_sort | are participants in a street based hiv testing program able to perform their own rapid test and interpret the results |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3466298?pdf=render |
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