The HPTN 071 (PopART) study was one of four large community-randomized trials carried out in sub-Saharan Africa to determine the impact of universal testing and treatment (UTT) on HIV incidence at population level. At a time when HIV incidence globally is falling too slowly to meet UNAIDS targets, UTT has been promoted as a potential key strategy to achieve steep reductions in HIV incidence.

All four of the UTT trials have now reported their primary results. This talk will summarize the results of the HPTN 071 (PopART) study, the largest of the four trials and the last to be completed. It will explore possible explanations for the findings, and also discuss the conclusions of the study alongside the results from the other three UTT trials.

Finally, we will discuss some of the key challenges in designing and implementing a community-randomized trial of this ambition and scale, and review some of the main lessons learned during the study.