HIV Test Results Research Articles

Gaps in HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Acceptance: Findings from an Outpatient HIV Testing Service in Italy

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the acceptability of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among individuals eligible for prophylaxis. Setting: Retrospective study of individuals receiving their first HIV test at the Infectious Diseases Unit of IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. Methods: People i) who received their first HIV test (baseline date) between January 2018 (availability of PrEP in Italy) and December 2023 (data lock), ii) with an indication for PrEP based on condomless sex were included; those already on PrEP were excluded. Individuals with a negative HIV test result were offered PrEP counselling and prescription according to guidelines. Characteristics of people who accepted or declined HIV PrEP were compared using Mann-Whitney or Chi-square tests, as appropriate. Results: A total of 2627 people were tested for HIV: 175 (6.6%) were diagnosed with HIV. Of the 2452 people with negative HIV test results, 2165 (88.3%) were men; median age was 34.3 years (interquartile range, IQR=28.7-42.4). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were detected in 478/2452 (19.5%), most commonly gonorrhoea (206/2452, 8.4%). Overall, 982/2452 (40.0%) people accepted PrEP, including only three women. Non-acceptance was higher among women (p<0.001) and non-Caucasians (p<0.001). Of those who did not accept PrEP, 260 (17.7%) were diagnosed with at least one STI at the time of HIV testing. Conclusion: Low PrEP acceptance was observed, particularly among women and people of non-Caucasian origin. Non-acceptance of PrEP was also observed among individuals diagnosed with an STI.

B-054 Performance Evaluation of the VITROS HIV Combo Assay on the Ortho VITROS 3600 system

Abstract Background n 2014, the US CDC updated HIV screening algorithm, recommended any assay capable of reliably detecting p24 antigen and both IgG&IgM antibodies as starting point. In 2021 Chinese FDA approved VITROS HIV Combo assay as early detection of acute HIV infection with fourth-generation Ag/Ab combination test, with several declared earlier seroconversion panel reactivity than the third generation assay. This study records the experiment run to assess clinical performance using prospectively collected HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibody positive samples from Chinese CDC on the VITROS HIV Combo Assay on the VITROS 5600 Integrated System, Methods In total 450 serum/plasma samples, including 164 HIV antibody positive (162 HIV-1 antibody positive and 2 HIV-2 antibody positive) and 286 HIV negative. The HIV-2 antibody positive samples were purchased from Seracare (United States), and the remaining samples were prepared by the Chinese CDC reference laboratory. In the samples prepared in the reference laboratory, all HIV-1 antibody positive samples were tested by HIV antibody confirmation test, and the result was positive; The HIV negative samples were confirmed based on a comprehensive assessment of HIV antibodies, HIV-1 p24 antigen, HIV nucleic acid testing, and follow-up testing results, and window period has been ruled out. Ten linear and sensitivity reference samples were added to the HIV-1 p24 antigen national reference material (batch number 20190505, purchased from the China Academy of Food and Drug Control) . The antigen concentrations from L1 to L10 were 20, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, 0.313, 0.156, 0.0781, and 0 IU/ml, respectively. Results The sensitivity for this positive population of samples in the VITROS Combo test was calculated as 100.00% (164/164) with an exact 95% confidence interval (Cl) of 99.26% to 100.00%. The specificity for this negative population was 99.58% (Cl 99.38%-99.73%). Conclusions The sensitivity and specificity of VITROS Combo assay are very high. With class leading antigen sensitivity doesn’t sacrifice specificity. This new assay delivers excellent confidence in results, and with more target (HIV-1 p24) being detected, can helps laboratory shortening HIV infection window, improve operators and technicians’ confidence in the outcome of HIV testing.

An evaluation of an online STI service across London: reviewing uptake, utility and outcomes over a 4-year period

ObjectivesSince 2018, Sexual Health London (SHL) has provided remote sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing services to London residents over 16 years of age. SHL was an asymptomatic screening service. In...

Impact of Awareness of Sexual Partners' HIV Serostatus on the HIV Acquisition among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Guangzhou, China: A Nested Case-Control Study.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of sexual partners' HIV serostatus awareness on theHIV acquisition among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Guangzhou, China. A nested case-control study was conducted based on a prospective cohort of MSM in Guangzhou. Within the cohort, individuals who underwent HIV seroconversion were identified as the case group, and each case was matched with four controls from the non-seroconverted participants. Information regarding the awareness of sexual partners' HIV serostatus over the preceding 6months was gathered. Of the 161 participants, 36.0% were aware of the HIV serostatus of all their sexual partners. The practice of engaging in condomless anal sex with partners of unknown HIV serostatus and being aware of the HIV serostatus of only some casual partners were positively correlated with an elevated risk of acquiring HIV. Conversely, being fully aware of the HIV serostatus of all sexual partners, including regular ones, was associated with a diminished risk of HIV incidence.Regular communication with sexual partners regarding HIV testing outcomes, honest disclosure of one's own HIV serostatus, and refusal of sexual contact with partners of unknown HIV serostatus can potentially mitigate the risk of acquiring HIV among MSM.

Associations of Minority Stressors, Alcohol Use Disorder, Resilience, and HIV Testing Self-Efficacy Among Community-Based Black Men Who Have Sex with Men in a Southern U.S. City: A Causal Mediation and Moderation Analysis

Background: Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) face multiple minority stressors (e.g., homophobia, racism, and presumed HIV status) that may indirectly erode their confidence in pursuing HIV testing uptake through exacerbating alcohol use disorder (AUD). Objectives: Using cross-sectional data from 203 community-based BMSM (71.4% as homosexual with a mean age of 26 years) living in a Southern US city, we conducted a causal mediation and moderation analysis to investigate in/direct pathways linking minority stressors, AUD risk, and self-efficacy of HIV testing, including how resilience may moderate these associations. Results: Our mediation analysis revealed that AUD risk accounted for 32.1% of the total effect of internalized homonegativity (βtotal effect = -0.424; SE=0.071; p<0.001), 28.6% of the total effect of experienced homophobia (βtotal effect = -0.684; SE=0.122; p<0.001), and 15.3% of the total effect of perceived HIV stigma (βtotal effect = -0.361; SE=0.164; p<0.05) on HIV testing self-efficacy. Resilience significantly moderated the associations of experienced homophobia (β = -0.049; SE=0.011; p<0.001), internalized homonegativity (β = -0.065; SE=0.027; p<0.01), and perceived HIV stigma (β = -0.034; SE=0.013; p<0.05) with AUD risk. Resilience also significantly moderated the associations of experienced homophobia (β = -0.073; SE=0.021; p<0.01), internalized homonegativity (β = -0.082; SE=0.012; p<0.001), perceived HIV stigma (β = -0.037; SE=0.039; p<0.05), and AUD risk (β = -0.021; SE=0.015; p<0.05) with HIV testing self-efficacy. Conclusions: Our study provides important implications in identifying multilevel sources for building resilience among BMSM to buffer the effects of minority stress on AUD risk and improve HIV testing outcomes.

Implementation of routine HIV testing policy in medical admissions in the sultanate of Oman: An experience from the Middle East.

To tackle the issue of late HIV diagnosis in the country, the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Oman introduced a national policy of routine opt-out HIV in medical admission units in September 2022. We hereby report the implementation and outcomes of this policy. All patients aged 16-65years admitted to a medical ward in secondary and local hospitals were offered an HIV test regardless of their symptoms by medical doctors, with training and support from HIV teams. A retrospective review for the period from September 2022 to September 2023 was conducted to determine the HIV testing rate and outcomes of those testing HIV seropositive. Over 12months, there were 23,399 admissions; 6889 had HIV tests. Thirty-two patients (0.46 %) were diagnosed with HIV; all of them were new diagnoses. Two cases were diagnosed during seroconversion. 12 cases had AIDS-defining illnesses. Four contacts were tested HIV positive. Twenty-five out of 28 alive patients are on ART. This is the first national policy of a routine opt-out HIV in medical admission units in the MENA region. Our experience showed that, even in low HIV prevalence and high HIV stigma settings, this policy is feasible, acceptable, and effective.

Social network-based approaches to HIV testing: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Social network-based testing approaches (SNAs) encourage individuals ("test promoters") to motivate sexual partners and/or those in their social networks to test for HIV. We conducted a systematic review to examine the effectiveness, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of SNA. We searched five databases from January 2010 to May 2023, and included studies that compared SNA with non-SNA. We used random-effects meta-analysis to combine effect estimates. Certainty was assessed using the GRADE approach. We identified 47 studies. SNA may increase uptake of HIV testing compared to non-SNA (RR 2.04, 95% CI: 1.06-3.95, Low certainty). The proportion of first-time testers was probably higher among partners or social contacts of test promoters using SNA compared to non-SNA (RR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.22-1.81, Moderate certainty). The proportion of people who tested positive for HIV may be higher among partners or social contacts of test promoters using SNA compared to non-SNA (RR 1.84, 95% CI: 1.01-3.35, Low certainty). There were no reports of any adverse events or harms associated with SNA. Based on six cost-effectiveness studies, SNA was generally cheaper per person tested and per person diagnosed compared to non-SNA. Based on 23 qualitative studies, SNA is likely to be acceptable to a variety of populations. Our review collated evidence for SNA to HIV testing covering the key populations and the general population who may benefit from HIV testing. We summarized evidence for the effectiveness, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of different models of SNA. While we did not identify an ideal model of SNA that could be immediately scaled up, for each setting and population targeted, we recommend various implementation considerations as our meta-analysis showed the effectiveness might differ due to factors which include the testing modality (i.e. use of HIV self-testing), type of test promoters, long or short duration of recruitment and use of financial incentives. Social network-based approaches may enhance HIV testing uptake, increase the proportion of first-time testers and those testing positive for HIV. Heterogeneity among studies highlights the need for context-specific adaptations, but the overall positive impact of SNA on HIV testing outcomes could support its integration into existing HIV testing services.

Availability of and interest in gender affirming care, PrEP, and HIV prevention services in a global sample of transmasculine persons

Background: We assessed access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and interest in integration of PrEP with gender-affirmative care (GAC) in a global sample of transmasculine persons. Methods: Transmasculine persons (n=590) aged 18 and above from 57 countries completed a brief online survey 4/2022 to 7/2022 about sexual behavior, knowledge and interest in PrEP, current access to PrEP and GAC, and preferred context for accessing PrEP. Descriptive analyses were stratified by country income group. Results: Most participants (54.4%) lived near a health center offering care to trans people. 1.9% of respondents reported ever receiving a positive HIV test result. Among those who had not (n=579), over a third reported engaging in receptive sex in the past year (35.2%) or anticipated doing so in the next year (41.5%), 86.9% had never received information about HIV prevention specific to transmasculine people, and 76.3% had heard of PrEP. Among those who had heard of PrEP (n=440), only 18.9% had discussed or been offered it by a provider, and only 3.6% were currently taking it—yet 67.9% who had heard of it but were not using it would “definitely” (28.5%) or “maybe” (39.4%) be interested in taking it were it available for free. Out of these participants, the majority (60.5%) preferred the idea of accessing PrEP from the same clinic they received gender affirming care. Conclusion: Interventions are needed to improve PrEP access for transmasculine people globally. Clinics already providing gender-affirming care to trans people are acceptable clinical contexts to integrate such interventions.

Women's Perceived HIV Stigma and Testing in Stann Creek District, Belize: A Population-Representing, Mixed-Methods Study.

Stigma affects adversely the HIV prevention continuum and care cascade. Our population-based, mixed-methods study aimed to assess women's perceived HIV stigma and discriminatory attitudes, and their relation with HIV testing in a high-prevalence area in Belize. This population-representing household survey in the mixed urban-rural setting of Stann Creek District, Belize, collected data from 236 women age 15 to 49 years. We analyzed HIV testing rates, HIV prevention and transmission knowledge, perceived stigma manifestations, and participant attitudes. Concurrently, a nested qualitative component of study cognitive interviews with a purposive sample of 23 women explored HIV stigma in their community. A vast majority of women (96%) perceived HIV stigma manifestations in their communities as pervasive and a deterrent to people from testing. Discriminatory attitudes (16% believe children with HIV should not attend school) and HIV misconceptions (53% fear acquiring HIV through saliva) tended to be more common in nonurban areas and among women with less formal education. Stigma persisted even with high HIV testing rates among women. Qualitative findings triangulated survey results and, taken together, suggest that prejudices held against people with HIV led to avoidance of HIV preventive measures such as testing and status disclosure, fueled by a strong distrust of the medical care system regarding confidentiality of HIV test results. Misconceptions about HIV and stigmatizing attitudes remain pervasive among women in Stann Creek, Belize. Health literacy, stigma interventions, and expansion of routine confidential testing to include men are needed to address the HIV and stigma syndemic in Belize.

The effects of regular home delivery of HIV self-testing and follow-up counselling on HIV testing and prevention outcomes in men who have sex with men who test infrequently in the United States: a pragmatic, virtual randomized controlled trial.

Past research shows that HIV self-testing (HIVST) can increase testing and facilitate more HIV diagnoses relative to clinic testing. However, in the United States, the use of HIVSTs is limited due to concerns that those who use HIVST could be less likely to be linked to care. From January 2019 to April 2022, we recruited 811 men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States who tested infrequently using an online marketing campaign and randomized them 1:1:1 to receive one of the following every 3 months for a year: (1) text message reminders to get tested at a local clinic (control); (2) mailed HIVST kits with access to a free helpline (standard HIVST); and (3) mailed HIVST kits with counselling provided within 24 hours of opening a kit (eTest). Quarterly follow-up surveys assessed HIV testing, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use and sexual risk behaviour. Eight participants were diagnosed with HIV, and all but one were through HIVST. Participants in either HIVST condition, standard or eTest, had significantly higher odds of any testing (OR = 7.9, 95% CI = 4.9-12.9 and OR = 6.6, 95% CI = 4.2-10.5) and repeat testing (>1 test; OR = 8.5, 95% CI = 5.7-12.6; OR = 8.9, 95% CI = 6.1-13.4) over 12 months relative to the control group. Rates of STI testing and PrEP uptake did not differ across study condition, but those in the eTest condition reported 27% fewer sexual risk events across the study period relative to other groups. HIVST vastly increased testing, encouraged more regular testing among MSM, and identified nearly all new cases, suggesting that HIVST could diagnose HIV acquisition earlier. Providing timely follow-up counselling after HIVST did not increase rates of STI testing or PrEP use, but some evidence suggested that counselling may have reduced sexual risk behaviour. To encourage more optimal testing, programmes should incorporate HIVST and ship kits directly to recipients at regular intervals.

Point of care HIV testing in dental settings in high-income countries: A mixed-methods systematic review.

Expanding HIV testing beyond specialized services has been a key strategic approach to eliminating the transmission of HIV. In recent years, dental settings have been identified as offering an opportunity for delivering point of care HIV testing (POCT) interventions. Intervention components and implementation strategies have varied across studies and there is uncertainty about the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV in the dental patient population. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to synthesize the HIV testing outcomes of intervention studies, identify the core components of POCT interventions implemented in dental settings; and understand the barriers and facilitators to intervention implementation. A mixed-methods systematic review was undertaken. Two authors reviewed abstracts and full papers for inclusion and appraised the studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A convergent integrated mixed methods study design underpinned the synthesis. Outcomes were presented using descriptive statistics. Intervention components were mapped to the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist. Barriers and facilitators were described using a narrative thematic analysis. POCT was offered to 22 146 dental patients, 62.5% accepted POCT. Intervention studies that reported higher uptake of testing utilized a dedicated dental or researcher staff member to provide testing, integrated testing and provided results within the routine dental appointment and adopted a provider-initiated universal approach to offering testing. Six themes emerged that were pertinent to the barriers and facilitators to HIV testing in dental setting. POCT uptake in dental settings was comparable with other non-specialized health settings. Key to the operationalization of the intervention were perceptions about its value and relevance to the dental patient population, attitudes toward the intervention, logistical barriers to its implementation, the risk of HIV testing stigma to the patient-practitioner relationship and maximising the fit of the intervention within the constraints of the dental setting.

An enhanced cross-sectional HIV incidence estimator that incorporates prior HIV test results.

Incidence estimation of HIV infection can be performed using recent infection testing algorithm (RITA) results from a cross-sectional sample. This allows practitioners to understand population trends in the HIV epidemic without having to perform longitudinal follow-up on a cohort of individuals. The utility of the approach is limited by its precision, driven by the (low) sensitivity of the RITA at identifying recent infection. By utilizing results of previous HIV tests that individuals may have taken, we consider an enhanced RITA with increased sensitivity (and specificity). We use it to propose an enhanced estimator for incidence estimation. We prove the theoretical properties of the enhanced estimator and illustrate its numerical performance in simulation studies. We apply the estimator to data from a cluster-randomized trial to study the effect of community-level HIV interventions on HIV incidence. We demonstrate that the enhanced estimator provides a more precise estimate of HIV incidence compared to the standard estimator.

Comparing Socio-Demographics and HIV Testing and Prevention Outcomes Between Low-Income HIV-Negative Heterosexually Active Black Women and Men with Health Insurance.

This study is to compare socio-demographic, HIV testing, and prevention factors experienced by insured low-income heterosexual Black women and men. We examined cross-sectionaldata from Black women and men (n = 5837) recruited in 23 U.S. cities for National HIV Behavioral Surveillance June-December 2019. We compared socio-demographic and behavioral factors between groups using log-linked Poisson regression models, producing adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Black women were less likely than Black men to have private insurance (aPR 0.61, 95% CI 0.50-0.74, p < 0.0001). Black women were more likely than Black men to have incomes at or below the poverty line (aPR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07, p = 0.02), be aware of PrEP (aPR 1.20, 95% CI 1.12-1.28, p < 0.0001), and have been recently tested for HIV (aPR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04, 1.20, p < 0.01). Despite insured status, many Black women and men experienced suboptimal access to and utilization of HIV testing and prevention services. Understanding how social conditions produce differential access to care may help inform HIV prevention interventions.

HUBUNGAN FAKTOR INDIVIDU DAN ORGANISASI DENGAN KINERJA TENAGA KESEHATAN PADA PROGRAM PPIA

Transmission of HIV infection from pregnant women to babies can be prevented with the Prevention of HIV Transmission from Mother to Child (PPIA) Program. However, in its implementation, four Community Health Centers in Gresik Regency have not met HIV testing requirements. Therefore, to achieve these standards, a study of the factors that influence the performance of the PPIA workforce is required. This research aims to identify factors that influence the performance of PPIA workers. Data were collected using a total sampling technique using a questionnaire on a sample of 45. Next, hypothesis testing was carried out. The research results show that most PPIA workers at the Gresik Regency Health Center perform poorly, while their knowledge tends to be low. There is no significant relationship between length of service, motivation, or leadership and the performance of the PPIA workforce. This indicates problems in understanding, motivation, and leadership in the work environment. Improvement efforts, such as designing human resource management (HR) strategies and developing the health workers' competencies, are needed. The results of this research can be used to design strategies to increase human resources to increase HIV testing outcomes for pregnant women and reduce HIV transmission from pregnant women to babies.

Cervical cancer screening among women with comorbidities: evidence from the 2022 Tanzania demographic and health survey

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to examine cervical cancer screening (CCS) uptake among women living with hypertension and HIV in Tanzania.MethodsWe used the recently released 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey. The outcome variable assessed in the study was CCS, whereas chronic morbidities constituted the main explanatory variable. Data analysis was based on observations from 6,298 women aged 30–49 years. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the association between hypertension and HIV status, and CCS uptake. The analyses were computed in STATA 18.ResultsOut of the 6,298 respondents, only 805 (12.8%) had undergone CCS with higher screening uptake among those living with either one of the disease (28.5%) than among those living with neither hypertension or HIV. The highest proportion was found among those who had ever been diagnosed with hypertension (24.1%) and among women with positive HIV test results (36.7%). There was a significantly higher likelihood of undergoing screening for cervical cancer among women living with at least one of the diseases [AOR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.4–2.8], compared to those without these conditions. Women diagnosed with hypertension showed increased likelihood of undergoing CCS [AOR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.1–1.7]. Similarly, women with a positive HIV test result demonstrated higher odds of screening uptake [AOR = 5.2; 95%CI: 4.0-6.7].ConclusionThe study found a positive association between comorbidities and CCS uptake in Tanzanian women. Our findings emphasize the critical importance of ensuring accessibility and adherence to essential screenings for individuals with chronic morbid conditions. Future efforts should focus on strengthening existing integrated services and identifying potential barriers to accessing CCS within these healthcare settings to optimize cervical cancer prevention efforts for individuals with chronic morbidities.

Zinc supplementation on cellular immune response in splenectomized thalassemia major

Background: The immune response of thalassemia patients is different from usual; therefore, thalassemia patients are susceptible to infection. A study at Thalassemia Center in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital showed that all thalassemia patients experience zinc deficiency. The decreased cellular immune response is associated with zinc deficiency, whereas splenectomy exacerbates the condition. This study aims to evaluate the improvement of cellular immune response in splenectomized thalassemia major patients after zinc supplementation. Method: Randomized double-blinded controlled trial was conducted on splenectomized thalassemia major patients in 12 weeks period. The inclusion criteria were aged &gt; 12 years and had negative HIV test results. The subject receiving corticosteroids were excluded. Fifty-six subjects were randomly divided into two groups, the zinc group and the placebo group. Between 2 groups, data on zinc serum, T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, CD8+ T lymphocyte count, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were evaluated at the beginning and the end of the study and were analyzed with unpaired t-test, Mann Whitney test, and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. Result: After zinc supplementation, only 18 of 28 subjects in the zinc group recovered normal zinc serum levels. There were no significant changes after zinc supplementation in all parameters of cellular immune response (p &gt; 0.05) between the two groups. This might be due to the subjects' adherence, which was lower in the zinc group (75.82%) than in the placebo group (83.19%). Conclusion: The effect of zinc supplementation on cellular immune response in splenectomized thalassemia major patients had not been proven yet.

Brief Report: Self-Reported HIV-Positive Status but Subsequent HIV-Negative Test Results in Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment Survey Participants-11 Sub-Saharan African Countries, 2015-2018.

HIV testing is a critical step to accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) because early diagnosis can facilitate earlier initiation of ART. This study presents aggregated data of individuals who self-reported being HIV-positive but subsequently tested HIV-negative during nationally representative Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment surveys conducted in 11 countries from 2015 to 2018. Survey participants aged 15 years or older were interviewed by trained personnel using a standard questionnaire to determine HIV testing history and self-reported HIV status. Home-based HIV testing and counseling using rapid diagnostic tests with return of results were performed by survey staff according to the respective national HIV testing services algorithms on venous blood samples. Laboratory-based confirmatory HIV testing for all participants identified as HIV-positives and self-reported positives, irrespective of HIV testing results, was conducted and included Geenius HIV-1/2 and DNA polymerase chain reaction if Geenius was negative or indeterminate. Of the 16,630 participants who self-reported as HIV-positive, 16,432 (98.6%) were confirmed as HIV-positive and 198 (1.4%) were HIV-negative by subsequent laboratory-based testing. Participants who self-reported as HIV-positive but tested HIV-negative were significantly younger than 30 years, less likely to have received ART, and less likely to have received a CD4 test compared with participants who self-reported as HIV-positive with laboratory-confirmed infection. A small proportion of self-reported HIV-positive individuals could not be confirmed as positive, which could be due to initial misdiagnosis, deliberate wrong self-report, or misunderstanding of the questionnaire. As universal ART access is expanding, it is increasingly important to ensure quality of HIV testing and confirmation of HIV diagnosis before ART initiation.

Co-delivery of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV testing among publicly insured adolescents and young adults (AYA) receiving medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)

BackgroundLow rates of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prescribing contribute to the disproportionate burden of HIV in the United States. Among adolescent and young adults (AYA) with opioid use disorder, HIV testing and PrEP co-prescription rates are poorly characterized. MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis involving deidentified data from Philadelphia’s Medicaid beneficiaries ages 16–29 years who were prescribed medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) from 2015 to 2020 and continuously Medicaid-enrolled for ≥6 months prior to that prescription. After identifying the presence of a qualifying diagnosis signifying a PrEP indication, we examined the outcome of appropriate PrEP co-prescriptions and HIV testing using generalized estimating equations (GEE) modeling. ResultsWe identified 795 AYA Medicaid beneficiaries with 1269 qualified treatment episodes. We calculated a PrEP prescribing rate of 29.47 per 1000 person-years among AYA receiving MOUD. The HIV testing rate was 63.47 per 1000 person-years among AYA receiving MOUD. GEE modeling revealed that individuals receiving methadone were more likely (aOR=2.62, 95% CI=1.06–6.49) to receive HIV testing within 6 months after a PrEP-qualifying diagnosis compared to those receiving other MOUD medications. Those who only saw outpatient behavioral health providers were less likely (aOR=0.48, 95% CI=0.24–0.99) to have received an HIV test within 6 months after the PrEP-qualifying diagnosis compared to those receiving inpatient behavioral health services. ConclusionsCo-prescription of PrEP and HIV testing among AYA receiving MOUD was rare in this large urban publicly insured population. Interventions are needed to increase HIV prevention services for this key population of AYA at risk for HIV infection.

Longitudinal patterns in indeterminate HIV rapid antibody test results: a population-based, prospective cohort study.

Rapid HIV tests are critical to HIV surveillance and universal testing and treatment programs. We assessed longitudinal patterns in indeterminate HIV rapid test results in an African population-based cohort. Prospective HIV rapid antibody test results, defined by two parallel rapid tests, among participants aged 15-49 years from three survey rounds of the Rakai Community Cohort Study, Uganda, from 2013 to 2018, were assessed. An indeterminate result was defined as any weak positive result or when one test was negative and the other was positive. A total of 31,405 participants contributed 54,459 person-visits, with 15,713 participants contributing multiple visits and 7,351 participants contributing 3 visits. The prevalence of indeterminate results was 2.7% (1,490/54,469). Of the participants with multiple visits who initially tested indeterminate (n = 591), 40.4% were negative, 18.6% were positive, and 41.0% were indeterminate at the subsequent visit. Of the participants with two consecutive indeterminate results who had a third visit (n = 67), 20.9% were negative, 9.0% were positive, and 70.2% remained indeterminate. Compared to a prior negative result, a prior indeterminate result was strongly associated with a subsequent indeterminate result [adjusted prevalence ratio, 23.0 (95% CI = 20.0-26.5)]. Compared to men, women were more likely to test indeterminate than negative [adjusted odds ratio, 2.3 (95% CI = 2.0-2.6)]. Indeterminate rapid HIV test results are highly correlated within an individual and 0.6% of the population persistently tested indeterminate over the study period. A substantial fraction of people with an indeterminate result subsequently tested HIV positive at the next visit, underscoring the importance of follow-up HIV testing protocols.IMPORTANCERapid HIV tests are a critical tool for expanding HIV testing and treatment to end the HIV epidemic. The interpretation and management of indeterminate rapid HIV test results pose a unique challenge for connecting all people living with HIV to the necessary care and treatment. Indeterminate rapid HIV test results are characterized by any weak positive result or discordant results (when one test is negative and the other is positive). We systematically tested all participants of a Ugandan population-based, longitudinal cohort study regardless of prior test results or HIV status to quantify longitudinal patterns in rapid HIV test results. We found that a substantial fraction (>15%) of participants with indeterminate rapid test results subsequently tested positive upon follow-up testing at the next visit. Our findings demonstrate the importance of follow-up HIV testing protocols for indeterminate rapid HIV test results.

Counselling for HIV Test in Hospital Integrated Counselling Testing Centers

Counselling is a confidential dialogue between an individual and a counsellor. It aims to provide information on HIV/AIDS and bring about behaviour change in the individual. It also enables the individual to take a decision regarding HIV testing and to understand the implications of the test results. Counselling includes the assessment of an individual’s risk of acquisition and transmission of HIV, facilitation of preventive behaviour, and coping mechanisms in case an individual is found to be HIV positive. More importantly, counselling is intended to address the physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs of the individual availing integrated Counselling Testing Centers. Counselling is an integral part of HIV screening as well as confirmatory facilities under HCTS. It ensures audio-visual privacy and confidentiality of information shared by the individual, including HIV test results. All records and registers should be securely stored. In this research paper I have discuss the types of counselling for HIV testing in Hospital Integrated Counselling Testing Centers and also analysis the Standard operating procedures &amp; maintain the records.