901. Integrated Community Health Screening for COVID-19 and HIV Promotes HIV Diagnoses and Linkage to Care

Abstract

BackgroundNew Jersey experienced a 64% decrease in HIV screening during the COVID-19 pandemic, hampering the Federal “End the Epidemic Initiative”. From March 2020- May 2021, North Jersey Community Research Initiative, a community-based organization in Newark, NJ, noted a HIV seropositivity of 3.1% despite a decrease of 25% in testing. Qualitative interviews conducted virtually with community individuals and focus groups during that time period indicated that COVID-19 suggested clients were taking more risks due to feelings of isolation, depression and anxiety. NJCRI in collaboration with Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Somerset, NJ and five other community-based partners in NJ wanted to assess if offering community combination COVID-19 screening and HIV screenings during the pandemic would increase community screening for HIV. MethodsCLIA Waived Screening for COVID-19 from two antigen assays, LumiraDx and BD Veritor was combined with a referenced laboratory based molecular screening from saliva Infinity Biologix under FDA emergency use authorization within CDC guidance with HIV Alere/Determine and INSTI in those individuals that identified as asymptomatic for COVID-19 but with high risk for HIVResultsNJCRI began the COVID-19 and HIV rapid screening to clients on January 4, 2021.Clients tested for COVID-19 (N=274), 3% tested positive for HIV and < 3% are self-reported HIV+ (94% of the sample tested negative for HIV). Overall, 92% of clients tested negative for COVID-19. Clients testing positive for COVID-19 (N=19), there was a 6% positivity rate utilizing COVID-19 Antigen by nasal swab. Those positive via COVID-19 Molecular (N=19) method, results indicate clients also tested positive 6% of the time using a saliva indicator. Approximately, 5% of the study sample are confirmed COVID-19 positives via both testing methods (separately 1% Antigen and < 2% Molecular). 19% of the sample (N=3) tested positive for both HIV and COVID-19. Figure 2. Demographics Figure 3. Social and Economic Risk FactorsConclusionNewly diagnosed patients were treated the same day with antiretroviral therapy; linked to medical care, behavioral health and risk reduction services. Combining COVID-19 and HIV screening in a trusted community-based setting improved delivery of HIV care and linkage to care for newly diagnosed individuals in Newark, NJ. Figure 4. Behavioral Risk Factors Figure 3. Social and Behavioral Risk FactorsDisclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures