NCJ Number
233736
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 30 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2011 Pages: 101-103
Date Published
January 2011
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether oral swab testing for blood borne virus in the community leads youth to HIV/STI screening at a clinic.
Abstract
This study was designed to determine whether providing an oral swab test in the community for blood borne virus testing leads to an increase in subsequent attendance for sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening at the STI clinic compared with making appointments for young people to attend the clinic for same day HIV testing an STI screening. Participants were randomized into either the oral swab test group or the blood test group with of the trial if eligible. All the 27 participants in the oral swab test group were tested for HIV and hepatitis C compared with 5 for HIV and 2 for hepatitis C in the blood test group (P is less than 0.001). Only 2 of the 27 participants in the blood test group were tested for hepatitis B compared with 25 in the oral swab test group (P is less than 0.001). Nine participants in the oral swab test group attended the STI clinic for STI screening compared with there in the blood test group (P equals 0.09). An oral swab test in the community for blood borne virus testing leads to an increase in the number of young high-risk people tested for blood borne infections and is associated with a trend towards higher rates of subsequent attendance for STI screening. (Published Abstract) Table and references