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Mailout HIV self-testing: overview of the GetaKit initiative in Ottawa, Canada

Title
Mailout HIV self-testing: overview of the GetaKit initiative in Ottawa, Canada
Presenter
Patrick O'Byrne
Authors
S. Winkelman (1,2), P. O'Byrne * (3,4), A. Musten (2), G. Inamdar (2), L. Orser (4,3), M.-O. Grayson (4), M. Harding (5), H. Inoua (6), C. Wong (6), N. Ho (3)
Institutions
(1) University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, Canada, (2) Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Testing and Clinical Initiatives, Toronto, Canada, (3) University Of Ottawa, School of Nursing, Ottawa, Canada, (4) Ottawa Public Health, Ottawa, Canada, (5) MAX Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada, (6) AIDS Committee of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

BACKGROUND: Access to HIV testing and sexual health resources has been limited in Ontario as a result of the province's COVID-19 response. However, people continue to engage in sexual contact with new partners, presenting an ongoing risk of HIV transmission and a continued need for HIV testing. To address this gap, a team of nurses at the University of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health, in collaboration with staff from Ottawa ASOs and the OTHN, launched a mail-out HIV self-testing project entitled 'GetaKit'.
DESCRIPTION: GetaKit sought to assess the outcomes associated with an Internet-based ordering system of an HIV self-test kit in Ottawa, Canada, including HIV diagnosis rates and linkage to care. As of July 20, 2020, eligible participants ('¥18 years old, HIV-negative, not on PrEP, not in a HIV vaccine trial, living in Ottawa, no bleeding disorders) could register via www.GetaKit.ca to order kits. GetaKit utilised a status-neutral approach to testing, providing counselling to all clients and linking clients with the appropriate care, either confirmatory testing and treatment or prevention (PrEP).
LESSONS LEARNED: As of December 2020, 825 persons completed the eligibility screener; 63.9% (n=527) were eligible. Of eligible participants, 275 completed baseline surveys and 259 ordered a test. Approximately 26% (n=68) of participants had no prior HIV testing or were unsure of testing history. Approximately 66% (n=171) of participants belonged to a priority group for HIV testing, including members of gbMSM, Black, and Indigenous populations. We have results for approximately 70% (n=182) of participants who ordered a kit: none were positive, 143 were negative, 36 were invalid, and 2 'preferred not to say'. 61.3% (n=159) patients were referred for PrEP.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated the effectiveness and acceptability of a mail-out HIV self-test kit in Ottawa, Canada. HIV self-testing ensured testing and prevention among regular and new testers while other sexual health resources were closed. Mailout HIV self-testing has the potential to increase access to HIV testing in Ontario.