Rapid Home-Based Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing to Reduce Costs in a Large Tuberculosis Cohort Study

Jerome T Galea, Carmen C Contreras, Leonid Lecca, S. Shin, R. Lobatón, Roger Calderón, Megan B Murray, Mercedes C Becerra

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

To reduce costs in a large tuberculosis household contact cohort study in Lima, Peru, we replaced laboratory-based human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing with home-based rapid HIV testing. We developed a protocol and training course to prepare staff for the new strategy; these included role-playing for home-based deployment of the Determine® HIV 1/2 Ag/Ac Combo HIV test. Although the rapid HIV test produced more false-positives, the overall cost per participant tested, refusal rate and time to confirmatory HIV testing were lower with the home-based rapid testing strategy compared to the original approach. Rapid testing could be used in similar research or routine care settings.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalPublic Health Action
Volume3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • TB
  • human immunodeficiency virus
  • rapid testing

Disciplines

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Social Work

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