AEGiS-15IAC: Rapid HIV testing in a one-hour procedure motivates MSM in the Netherlands to take the test.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Rapid HIV testing in a one-hour procedure motivates MSM in the Netherlands to take the test.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. TuOrC1197)

Van Loon CL, Koevoets WM
HIV Association Netherlands, Amsterdam, Netherlands

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that by 2000, 58% of MSM in the Netherlands had never been tested for HIV and that by 2002, 1/3 of the MSM with HIV in Amsterdam actually knew their HIV status. Although the prevalence among MSM in the Netherlands is comparable to that in other western urban areas, MSM in the Netherlands are less likely to test after a history of unsafe sex. One of the known reasons for this is the one-week waiting period after the test. The HIV Association Netherlands (HVN) has criticized regular health institutions for not innovating their testing methods in order to motivate people to get tested. With GSK sponsoring and 25 medical professionals as volunteers, a one-hour HIV-testing procedure was developed and is operational in Amsterdam. Named Checkpoint, it is open every Friday evening.

METHODS: Checkpoint includes pre- and post-test counseling and the use of the reliable Abbott Determine HIV-1/2 test. A positive result is confirmed using an Elisa and Western Blot. Checkpoint wanted to prove that a one-hour procedure would motivate MSM at high risk to take an HIV test. As a control, we used statistics from the Amsterdam Health Department, where a one-week wait after an HIV test is standard.

RESULTS: Minimal PR was necessary for Checkpoint to be fully booked every week. 1455 tests were taken in 18 months. MSM and straight people came in equal proportions. The majority of the visitors (76%) chose Checkpoint because of its rapidity. The average prevalence (2.8%) and the prevalence among MSM (5.2%) were higher than those in the control group (respectively 1.1% and 3.8%). There were no false positives. Detailed profiles of the high (MSM) and low prevalence groups have been obtained. Conclusion This procedure is persuasive for those at risk who refrain from or postpone HIV testing. This method can be applied without a laboratory infrastructure in outreach settings to reach high-risk groups. Good pre- and post-test skills are required.

Keywords: AEGIS, Prevalence, Unsafe Sex, HIV Seroprevalence, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV, HIV Seropositivity, Counseling, HIV-1, HIV Antibodies, Netherlands, immunology, methods

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TuOrC1197