Abstract
Frequent viral load testing is necessary during analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) in HIV cure-directed clinical trials, though such may be burdensome and inconvenient to trial participants. We implemented a national, cross-sectional survey in the United States to examine the acceptability of a novel home-based peripheral blood collection device for HIV viral load testing. Between June and August 2021, we distributed an online survey to people with HIV (PWH) and community members, biomedical HIV cure researchers and HIV care providers. We performed descriptive analyses to summarize the results. We received 73 survey responses, with 51 from community members, 12 from biomedical HIV cure researchers and 10 from HIV care providers. Of those, 51 (70%) were cisgender men and 50 (68%) reported living with HIV. Most (>80% overall) indicated that the device would be helpful during ATI trials and they would feel comfortable using it themselves or recommending it to their patients/participants. Of the 50 PWH, 42 (84%) indicated they would use the device if they were participating in an ATI trial and 27 (54%) also expressed a willingness to use the device outside of HIV cure studies. Increasing sensitivity of viral load tests and pluri-potency of the device (CD4 count, chemistries) would augment acceptability. Survey findings provide evidence that viral load home testing would be an important adjunct to ongoing HIV cure-directed trials involving ATIs. Survey findings may help inform successful implementation and uptake of the device in the context of personalized HIV care.
Highlights
Analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) have become a common feature of HIV cure-directed clinical trials [1,2]
We developed the survey instrument in close collaboration with members of the BEATHIV Community Advisory Board and Social Sciences Working Group
Our study reveals high hypothetical preliminary acceptability of a novel home-based blood collection device for viral load testing and suggests its promise to support participation and enhance confidence in HIV cure-directed trials involving analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) among a diverse range of stakeholders (e.g., PHW and community members, biomedical HIV cure researchers and HIV care providers)
Summary
Analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) have become a common feature of HIV cure-directed clinical trials [1,2]. In these investigations, people with HIV (PWH) interrupt antiretroviral treatment (ART) to test whether experimental interventions can keep HIV suppressed in the absence of therapy. The ability to self-test for viral load on demand would translate into more personalized monitoring and care and permit ATI trial participants to determine when they become viremic, reducing the risk of unintended HIV transmission to sexual partners [9,10,11,12]
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