1. Findings from the First Year of a Federally Funded, Direct-to-Consumer HIV Self-Test Distribution Program - United States, March 2023-March 2024.
- Author
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Sanchez T, MacGowan RJ, Hecht J, Keralis JM, Ackah-Toffey L, Bourbeau A, Dana R, Lilo EA, Downey RS, Getachew-Smith H, Hannah M, Valencia R, Krebs E, Pingel ES, Gayden JJ, Norelli J, Mason Z, Mahn J, Cramer N, Bole R, Sullivan P, Nwaohiri AN, Stryker JE, Kourtis AP, DiNenno EA, Fanfair RN, Mermin JH, and Delaney KP
- Subjects
- Humans, United States epidemiology, Adult, Male, Female, Young Adult, Middle Aged, Adolescent, Financing, Government, Direct-To-Consumer Screening and Testing, Program Evaluation, HIV Testing statistics & numerical data, Self-Testing, Aged, HIV Infections diagnosis, HIV Infections prevention & control, HIV Infections epidemiology
- Abstract
In September 2022, CDC funded a nationwide program, Together TakeMeHome (TTMH), to expand distribution of HIV self-tests (HIVSTs) directly to consumers by mail through an online ordering portal. To publicize the availability of HIVSTs to priority audiences, particularly those disproportionately affected by HIV, CDC promoted this program through established partnerships and tailored resources from its Let's Stop HIV Together social marketing campaign. The online portal launched March 14, 2023, and through March 13, 2024, distributed 443,813 tests to 219,360 persons. Among 169,623 persons who answered at least one question on a postorder questionnaire, 67.9% of respondents were from priority audiences, 24.1% had never previously received testing for HIV, and 24.8% had not received testing in the past year. Among the subset of participants who initiated a follow-up survey, 88.3% used an HIVST themselves, 27.1% gave away an HIVST, 11.7% accessed additional preventive services, and 1.9% reported a new positive HIVST result. Mailed HIVST distribution can quickly reach large numbers of persons who have never received testing for HIV or have not received testing as often as is recommended. TTMH can help to achieve the goal of diagnosing HIV as early as possible and provides a path to other HIV prevention and care services. Clinicians, community organizations, and public health officials should be aware of HIVST programs, initiate discussions about HIV testing conducted outside their clinics or offices, and initiate follow-up services for persons who report a positive or negative HIVST result., Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Robert Bole reports funding support from Emory University. Jennifer Hecht reports receipt of funding from OraSure Technologies for related work, not part of the current project. Patrick Sullivan reports institutional support from the National Institutes of Health, Merck, and Gilead Sciences, consulting fees from Merck and Gilead Sciences, honoraria from Gilead Sciences, and travel or meeting attendance support from Gilead Sciences. No other potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.
- Published
- 2024
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