Funding Source and Project Period: HIV Center Pilot Studies Program, 04/15/07 – 03/31/08

 

Key Personnel:

Principal Investigator: Ana Ventuneac, Ph.D.

Mentor: Alex Carballo-Diéguez, Ph.D.

Co-Investigator: Iván C. Balán, Ph.D.

Project Overview:


The US Food and Drug Administration is considering the approval of the over-the-counter sale of a rapid HIV test, the OraQuick® ADVANCE™ Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test, produced by OraSure Technologies Inc., that could be self-administered in the privacy of one's own home. This new technology could be used by HIV-uninfected men who have sex with men (MSM) to screen sexual partners, identify their HIV status, and decide whether to abstain from sex, have sex with condoms, or have sex unprotected.

 

Focusing on ethnically diverse HIV-uninfected men who have unprotected anal intercourse with non-exclusive male partners in the prior six months, the goal of this project was to study MSM’s attitudes about the possible use of a rapid HIV home test as a tool for decision-making about sexual behavior. We have enrolled and conducted individual interviews of 20 HIV uninfected MSM to examine: 1) motivation (or lack of motivation) to use a rapid HIV home test as a screening tool prior to sexual intercourse; 2) anticipated strategies (or hindrances) to use and have a partner use a rapid test for testing prior to sexual intercourse; and 3) anticipated ways (or problems) of handling test results.