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HIV Self-Testing: a Review of Current Implementation and Fidelity

  • The Science of Prevention (JD Stekler and J Baeten, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Oral HIV self-testing is an innovative and potentially high-impact means to increase HIV-case identification globally. As a screening test, oral HIV self-testing offers the potential for increased adoption through greater convenience and privacy, and the potential to increase the proportion of the population who test regularly. Research on how best to translate the innovation of oral self-testing to high-risk populations is underway. Currently only one oral HIV self-test kit is FDA-approved (OraQuick In-Home HIV Test) and available for retail sale. In the present report we review recent studies on the dissemination, adoption, and implementation of oral HIV testing. Prior work has focused primarily on adoption, but recent studies have begun to identify methods for improving dissemination and problems associated with self-implementation. At present a major barrier to wider adoption is the relatively high retail cost of the oral HIV test kit. Significant but minor barriers are represented by overly complex instructional materials for some population segments, and dissemination programs of unknown efficacy. Theoretical and practical suggestions for conducting research on dissemination, adoption, and implementation of oral HIV testing are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, 42-09 28th Street, WS 21-64, Queens, NY, 11101, USA

    Kristecia S. Estem

  2. Social and Behavioral Health Sciences, Oregon State University College of Public Health and Human Sciences, 401 Waldo Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Joseph Catania

  3. Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, 10920 Wilshire Blvd, Suite #350, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA

    Jeffrey D. Klausner

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  1. Kristecia S. Estem
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  2. Joseph Catania
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  3. Jeffrey D. Klausner
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Correspondence to Jeffrey D. Klausner.

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Kristecia Estem, Joe Catania, and Jeffrey D. Klausner declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Estem, K.S., Catania, J. & Klausner, J.D. HIV Self-Testing: a Review of Current Implementation and Fidelity. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 13, 107–115 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-016-0307-y

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