Abstract
The increasing prevalence of HIV-1 among men having sex with men (MSM) calls for an investigation of HIV-1 prevalence and incidence in MSM by early diagnosis to assist with early preventive interventions in Hong Kong. The participants were recruited randomly from MSM communities within a one-year period. Rapid HIV Test (RHT) and real-time dried blood spot (DBS)-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (DBS-qPCR) were used for the early diagnosis of 474 participants. Risk behavior analysis was performed by studying information obtained from the participants during the study period. The HIV-1 prevalence and incident rates in the studied MSM population were 4.01% (19/474) and 1.47% (7/474), respectively. Three infected participants were found at the acute phase of infection by DBS-qPCR. Only 46.4% (220/474) MSM were using condoms regularly for anal sex. HIV infection significantly correlated with unprotected receptive anal sex and syphilis infection. An increased number of infections was found among foreign MSM in Hong Kong. This study is the first to use DBS-qPCR to identify acutely infected individuals in a community setting and to provide both the prevalence and incident rates of HIV-1 infection among MSM in Hong Kong. The risk analysis provided evidence that behavior intervention strengthening is necessary to fight against the increasing HIV-1 epidemic among MSM in Hong Kong and surrounding regions in Asia.
Highlights
ObjectivesWe aimed to establish a prompt, sensitive and specific real-time dried blood spot (DBS)-based quantitative PCR (DBS-qPCR) for rapid HIV diagnosis at the community level, which may potentially benefit early preventive interventions
In 2014, the number of HIV-1 infections reached a historically high level in Hong Kong, with 195 new cases identified in the third quarter of the year, bringing the cumulative total of PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0125715 April 27, 2015Community-Based HIV Early Diagnosis in Hong Kong study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
976 participants were interviewed at our community-based voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) sites for men having sex with men (MSM)
Summary
We aimed to establish a prompt, sensitive and specific real-time DBS-based quantitative PCR (DBS-qPCR) for rapid HIV diagnosis at the community level, which may potentially benefit early preventive interventions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
