Pilot of non-invasive (oral fluid) testing for HIV within a community setting
Frances Birrell A , Shaun Staunton B , Joseph Debattista C F , Nicole Roudenko D , William Rutkin E and Craig Davis AA Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Health, Butterfield Street, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia.
B Queensland Association for Healthy Communities, 30 Helen Street, Newstead, Qld 4006, Australia.
C Brisbane Sexual Health and HIV Service, 270 Roma Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia.
D Queensland Health Pathology Services, Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia.
E Department of Public Medicine, Kobi House, Pechy Street, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: Joseph_Debattista@health.qld.gov.au
Sexual Health 7(1) 11-16 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH09029
Submitted: 7 March 2009 Accepted: 23 October 2009 Published: 15 February 2010
Abstract
Background: The present study sought to determine the level of undiagnosed HIV infection within a community setting of men who have sex with men (MSM) and identify any associated sexual risk behaviours. Methods: A total of 427 MSM were recruited in sex-on-premises venues (SOPV) and gay bars within the inner city of Brisbane. An additional 37 MSM were recruited in a smaller, regional centre (Toowoomba). Oral fluid testing for HIV antibodies was undertaken using the Orasure collection system and assay. Each participant was invited to complete a brief behaviour questionnaire and submit an oral fluid specimen. Confirmed serology results were linked to reported sexual behaviours, testing patterns and HIV status. Results: Of the 464 men surveyed, 33 identified as HIV-positive, and all of these were reactive by the Orasure assay. A further eight people who identified as negative or unknown serostatus, had confirmed Orasure reactive results, resulting in 1.9% of the ‘non-HIV positive’ MSM sample unaware of their positive HIV status. Therefore, 19.5% of the total confirmed HIV-positive individuals were not aware of their true serostatus. Conclusions: A significant minority of HIV-positive MSM are currently unaware of their positive serostatus. However, an analysis of their risk behaviour does not seem to indicate any significant difference to those who are HIV-negative. Interestingly, 86% of those who were unaware they were HIV-positive identified that they had been tested in the previous 6 months and all of them claimed to have been tested in the previous 2 years.
Additional keywords: HIV prevalence, Orasure, sexual risk behaviour.
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the laboratory staff of the Division of Immunology, QHPS who performed the assays, the staff and management of the participating clubs and sex-on-premises venues, the outreach workers from the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities who collected the specimens and patron surveys (Greg Jenner, Ben Wilcock, Michael King, Angela Yin, Susan Gobbart, Jasmine Linton, Mark Herriman, David Deloso, Scott Norman), Gary Boddy of the Communicable Diseases Branch, and most importantly, patrons who generously participated. This study was funded by the Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Health.
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