Facilitating HIV Testing Among Young Adult MSM Through Social Networking
Condition: HIV
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 3

Summary: 
      The purpose of this study is to evaluate a new approach to increase HIV testing among young
      adult Black, Hispanic, and white men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM). In this randomized,
      controlled trial, participants will be assigned to one of three HIV testing groups: (1) rapid
      HIV self-testing group (OraQuick® In-home HIV Test), (2) conventional "home-based" HIV
      testing group (Home Access Express), and (3) community/medical-based HIV testing group. Upon
      completion of testing, participants will receive a questionnaire to evaluate their HIV
      testing experience, and also inquire about recommendations for future testing. Study
      participants will also have the option to refer other study eligible males to the study via
      email.
    

Detailed description: 
      Young adult (18-24-year-old) Black, Hispanic, and white men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) have
      among the highest incidences of new HIV infections in the US yet have low HIV testing rates.
      Access, cost, time, and concerns about confidentiality are some of the barriers that limit
      these men from being tested at traditional medical/community-based testing sites. A new US
      Food and Drug Administration-approved rapid HIV self-test (OraQuick® In-home HIV Test) might
      encourage and facilitate HIV testing because of its widespread access, convenience, ease of
      usage, oral fluid collection system, privacy, and rapid provision of test results. Despite
      these advantages, the investigators do not know if the new rapid HIV self-test will be
      preferred over medical/community-based or conventional "home-based" HIV testing, and if it
      will serve as a means of improving HIV testing use among young adult MSM.

      The objectives of this study are to: (1) determine if testing uptake is higher in a rapid HIV
      self-testing group than in a conventional "home-based" HIV testing group and a
      community/medical-based testing referral group; (2) determine if time to initiation of HIV
      testing is shorter in the rapid HIV self-testing group, as compared to the other two
      participant groups; (3) determine if participants are more willing to contact and refer other
      young adult MSM to this study to use a rapid HIV self-test vs. a conventional "home-based"
      HIV test, or vs. a community/medical-based HIV test; (4) determine if those referred for
      rapid HIV self-testing are more likely to enroll in the study, have a higher uptake of
      testing, and have a shorter time to initiate HIV testing than those referred for conventional
      "home-based" HIV test, or a community/medical-based HIV test.

      This study is comprised of three stages, the first of which is closed. In Stage I of this
      study, the investigators surveyed a large sample of MSM social-networking website users and
      assessed their acceptance, facilitators/barriers to use, utilization, preferences, and
      opinions regarding the new rapid HIV self-test, as compared to conventional "home-based" HIV
      testing or medical or community-based HIV testing. Of the participants enrolled in Stage I,
      150 Black, 150 Hispanic, and 150 white MSM will be invited to participant in Stage II of this
      study. In this randomized, controlled trial, participants will be assigned to one of three
      HIV testing groups: (1) rapid HIV self-testing group (OraQuick® In-home HIV Test), (2)
      conventional "home-based" HIV testing group (Home Access Express), and (3)
      community/medical-based HIV testing group. Participants assigned to the rapid and
      conventional HIV testing groups will receive an internet-based coupon to order a free HIV
      testing kit from a specified pharmacy's website that will be delivered to the address of
      their choosing. The rapid HIV self-test kit and the conventional "home-based" HIV test kit
      contain all materials and instructions needed to conduct an HIV test. Participants assigned
      to the community/medical-based HIV testing group will receive a link to a CDC website
      (https://gettested.cdc.gov) that allows them to search for HIV testing locations of their
      choice. Participants in all three groups will receive an email explaining that the
      investigators are measuring uptake and time to testing among study participants. They will
      also be informed that the investigators will contact them after they have been tested to ask
      for their opinions regarding their testing experience. At the end of Stage II, participants
      will have the opportunity to refer other young adult MSM to the study via email. Referral
      participants will encompass Stage III of the study. Stage III participants will be assigned
      to the same testing group as the individual who referred them. Confidentiality will be
      maintained throughout all three stages of this study.
    

Intervention name(s): Rapid HIV Self-Test (OraQuick® In-home HIV Test); Conventional Home-Based HIV Test (Home Access Express); Community/Medical-Based HIV Test
Intervention type(s): Device; Device; Other
Intervention description(s): The participant will utilize materials and directions contained within the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test kit to properly perform a rapid HIV self-test. The participant will first swab his upper and lower gums using an Oral Swab Test Stick. The participant will then place this device in a test tube, and the results will be displayed in the Test Window within 20 minutes. Test results expire after 40 minutes.; The participant will utilize materials and directions contained within the Home Access Express HIV-1 Test System to properly perform a conventional home-based HIV test. The participant is required to gather a blood sample by lancing his finger. Blood samples are collected by placing drops of blood on a packaged specimen card. The participant will then mail his blood sample to the Home Access laboratory using a self-addressed, pre-paid shipping envelope. The Home Access laboratory will process the blood sample, and the participant is required to call the facility to learn his HIV test result.; The participant will receive a link to a CDC website (https://gettested.cdc.gov) to search for HIV testing locations in his surroudning community. This resource website will provide the participant with places that offer HIV testing for free or at a low cost. The participant also has the option of going to places that can use his insurance or charge for testing. The pariticant is responsible to pay for any testing costs.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Screening