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Clinical
Original article
Prospective observational study to evaluate the performance of the BioSure HIV Self-Test in the hands of lay users
  1. John Saunders1,
  2. Nataliya Brima1,
  3. Marzena Orzol1,
  4. Laura Phillips1,
  5. Ana Milinkovic1,
  6. Gary Carpenter2,
  7. Andrew Copas1,
  8. Richard Gilson1
  1. 1 Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK
  2. 2 BioSure UK, Nazeing, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr John Saunders, Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, Mortimer Market Centre, London, WC1E 6JB, UK; john.saunders{at}ucl.ac.uk

Abstract

Objectives In order to assess whether the BioSure HIV Self-Test could be reliably performed by users at home and to determine whether they were able to perform and correctly interpret the test, we carried out an evaluation study among attendees at a sexual health service.

Methods A prospective observational study of clinic attendees to determine their ability to follow the instructions, complete the test on themselves and correctly interpret the results. The evaluation included interpretation of three dummy (contrived) devices, chosen at random from a sample of 12 devices, to ensure that a sufficient number of all possible test outcomes were included.

Results Two hundred participants were recruited. 97.0% (95% CI 93.5 to 98.9) conducted the test so as to achieve a valid result. 99.5% correctly identified the test result. Participants correctly interpreted the result of 94.0% (95% CI 91.4 to 95.9) of 586 contrived devices.

Conclusions The majority of participants were able to follow the instructions and perform the test in order to get a valid result. Interpretation of the test results was good and the majority of participants were able to correctly read the result of their own and contrived tests. The availability of HIV self-tests will provide another option to increase access to testing particularly for those who may not wish or are unable to access clinical services.

  • HIV
  • reproductive health
  • sexual behaviour
  • HIV testing
  • diagnosis

https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2017-053231

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    Footnotes

    • Handling editor Jackie A Cassell

    • Contributors RG, AC, AM and GC wrote the protocol and secured funding for the study. AM managed the study. JS, MO and LP identified and recruited participants and managed data collection. NB and AC analysed data. JS led the writing of the manuscript with input from all authors.

    • Funding This study was funded by BioSure (UK).

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Ethics approval National Research Ethics Service (REC reference 14/LO/1666).

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.