HIV Self-Testing Increases HIV-Status Awareness Among MSM

In the U.S., among men who have sex with men (MSM), an estimated 1 in 6 living with HIV is unaware of his infection. To evaluate how mailing HIV self-tests to MSM affects frequency of testing, diagnoses of HIV infection, and sexual behaviors, researchers conducted a randomized, controlled trial. Participants were Internet recruited and randomized 1:1 to control or self-testing (ST). Those randomized to ST were mailed two oral-fluid and two finger-stick whole blood HIV tests. Primary outcomes were frequency of HIV testing and number of newly identified HIV infections.

A total of 2665 individuals (57.3% younger than 30 years; 57.8% white, 83.6% with at least high school education; 82.0% insured; 16.6% never previously HIV tested) were eligible…