Findings from the First Year of a Federally Funded, Direct-to-Consumer HIV Self-Test Distribution Program - United States, March 2023-March 2024

In September 2022, CDC funded a nationwide program, Together TakeMeHome (TTMH), to expand distribution of HIV self-tests (HIVSTs) directly to consumers by mail through an online ordering portal. To publicize the availability of HIVSTs to priority audiences, particularly those disproportionately affe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report Vol. 73; no. 24; pp. 558 - 564
Main Authors:	Sanchez, Travis, MacGowan, Robin J, Hecht, Jennifer, Keralis, Jessica M, Ackah-Toffey, Lucinda, Bourbeau, Avery, Dana, Ruth, Lilo, Emily A, Downey, Revae S, Getachew-Smith, Hannah, Hannah, Marissa, Valencia, Rachel, Krebs, Eli, Pingel, Emily S, Gayden, Jennie Johnston, Norelli, Jenna, Mason, Zavier, Mahn, Jennifer, Cramer, Natalie, Bole, Robert, Sullivan, Patrick, Nwaohiri, Anuli N, Stryker, Jo Ellen, Kourtis, Athena P, DiNenno, Elizabeth A, Fanfair, Robyn Neblett, Mermin, Jonathan H, Delaney, Kevin P
Format:	Journal Article Newsletter
Language:	English
Published:	United States U.S. Government Printing Office 20-06-2024 U.S. Center for Disease Control Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Subjects:	Adolescent Adult Aged Audiences Biological products industry Cisgender Community organizations Dating services Direct-To-Consumer Screening and Testing Female Financing, Government Full Report Gender identity Hispanic Americans HIV HIV (Viruses) HIV Infections - diagnosis HIV Infections - epidemiology HIV Infections - prevention & control HIV testing HIV Testing - statistics & numerical data Human immunodeficiency virus Humans LGBTQ people Male Marketing Medical tests Middle Aged Prevention Program Evaluation Public health Questionnaires Self testing Sexually transmitted diseases STD Surveys Transgender persons United States - epidemiology Young Adult United States United States > US
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Summary:	In September 2022, CDC funded a nationwide program, Together TakeMeHome (TTMH), to expand distribution of HIV self-tests (HIVSTs) directly to consumers by mail through an online ordering portal. To publicize the availability of HIVSTs to priority audiences, particularly those disproportionately affected by HIV, CDC promoted this program through established partnerships and tailored resources from its Let's Stop HIV Together social marketing campaign. The online portal launched March 14, 2023, and through March 13, 2024, distributed 443,813 tests to 219,360 persons. Among 169,623 persons who answered at least one question on a postorder questionnaire, 67.9% of respondents were from priority audiences, 24.1% had never previously received testing for HIV, and 24.8% had not received testing in the past year. Among the subset of participants who initiated a follow-up survey, 88.3% used an HIVST themselves, 27.1% gave away an HIVST, 11.7% accessed additional preventive services, and 1.9% reported a new positive HIVST result. Mailed HIVST distribution can quickly reach large numbers of persons who have never received testing for HIV or have not received testing as often as is recommended. TTMH can help to achieve the goal of diagnosing HIV as early as possible and provides a path to other HIV prevention and care services. Clinicians, community organizations, and public health officials should be aware of HIVST programs, initiate discussions about HIV testing conducted outside their clinics or offices, and initiate follow-up services for persons who report a positive or negative HIVST result.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0149-2195 1545-861X 1545-861X
DOI:	10.15585/mmwr.mm7324a4