A clinical utility evaluation of dual HIV/Syphilis point-of-care tests in non-clinical settings for screening for HIV and syphilis in men who have sex with men

BACKGROUND

Dual point-of-care tests (POCTs) for the simultaneous detection of antibodies to HIV and syphilis have been developed. Since community-based organisations (CBO) are effective providers of HIV and syphilis testing among men who have sex with men (MSM), evaluation of the utility of these dual tests at CBO testing services is a high priority. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of performing dual HIV-syphilis POCT testing among both users and providers at these non-clinical sites.

METHODS

This evaluation assessed the utility of two lateral flow immunochromatographic antibody technologies for dual screening for HIV/syphilis among MSM seeking testing in four CBO testing services in Spain, Slovenia, Latvia, and Ukraine. The study's conceptual framework divides the concept of feasibility into two inter-related domains, acceptability, and usability and further breaks it down into six subdomains: learnability, willingness, suitability, satisfaction, efficacy, and effectiveness. The feasibility analysis was performed by calculating the median score in 3 stages (for individual questions, subdomains, and domains), using a summated scores method.

RESULTS

The final sample included 844 participants, 60 of which were found to be HIV test positive (7.1%) and 61 (7.2%) positive on testing for syphilis. There was a small difference (1.1%) when comparing the results of the two dual POCTs under evaluation to the tests routinely used at each site. The inter-rater agreement showed a high concordance between two independent readings. The analysis of the feasibility for the users of the services indicated good satisfaction, suitability, and willingness. In addition, among 18 providers the total mean score showed good acceptability and usability, good willingness, easy learnability, high suitability, and good efficacy, but lower satisfaction and effectiveness. The operational characteristics of both dual study POCTs were well evaluated by providers.

CONCLUSIONS

The introduction of dual HIV and syphilis  POCTs in CBO testing services for screening of MSM is feasible, with a high acceptability and usability both for users and providers. Implementation of dual POCTs for HIV and syphilis in CBO testing services is an opportunity for scaling up integrated HIV/syphilis testing for MSM.

1235. Anti-HCV Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors in Patients of Psychiatry Hospitals in Latvia

Background

According to previous epidemiological studies there is 2.4% prevalence of anti-HCV in Latvian population. Hepatitis C can lead to liver cirrhosis and HCC. There is available an effective HCV treatment with 100% reimbursement. WHO has settled a goal – to eliminate HCV as a public health threat by 2030. The biggest obstacle to achieve this goal is to find an infected persons.

The aim of this study was to screen and analyze the data of patients from Psychiatry hospitals (PH) in Latvia. Patients were screened for hepatitis C infection (anti-HCV) and analyze the possible risk factors.

Methods

795 patients of all PH in Latvia were tested, including 57.1% males and 42.9% females. The mean age was 49 years (range 18 - 93). Data were obtained by performing survey and rapid blood antibody tests. The questionnaire included demographic information and 10 questions on infection risk factors. Study was done from May till October 2021 by HIV Prevention Point workers in PHs of 7 PH in Latvia – Riga, Daugavpils, Liepaja, Strenci, Gintermuiza, Akniste and Vecpiebalga. Data were analyzed using MS Excel and IBM SPSS.

Results

24.8% of patients noted they have been sexually active in the last year, but only 9.9% admitted usage of condoms. 3.8% noted they are or have been used IV drugs. 11.2% of patients have a history of incarceration.

In total 6.8% of performed tests were positive for anti-HCV. Incarcerated persons were positive in 16% of cases, non-incarcerated – in 6%. IV drug users (IVDU) were positive in 49%, non-users – in 4.9%, all differences are statistically significant.

Conclusion

Patients in PH are at higher risk of HCV infection in comparison to population in Latvia. Besides already well known risk groups – IVDU and incarcerated people, we found 2.8 times higher anti-HCV prevalence in psychiatric hospital’s patients, with markedly higher prevalence in those previously incarcerated or IVDU. This study provides valuable data to better identify groups of individuals with higher risk of HCV infection. Latvia. PNC patients should further be tested, especially individuals who have been incarcerated, use or have used IV drugs.

Disclosures

All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Revealing HIV epidemic dynamics and contrasting responses in two WHO Eastern European countries: insights from modeling and data triangulation

OBJECTIVES

In the early 2000s, Estonia and Latvia experienced a rapidly growing HIV epidemic among people who inject drugs (PWID), and had, with Russia, the highest diagnosis rates in Europe. Understanding epidemic dynamics in both countries and how responses to HIV impacted them is essential to ending injection-driven epidemics.

DESIGN

Statistical modeling, programmatic data collection, and triangulation.

METHODS

Data on newly diagnosed HIV cases were used in a back-calculation model to estimate, for each country, trends in HIV incidence, time to diagnosis, and undiagnosed infections. Modeled estimates were then triangulated with programmatic data on harm reduction services, HIV testing, and ART.

RESULTS

From 2007 to 2016, HIV incidence decreased in Estonia by 61% overall, for all exposure groups, and particularly for male PWID (97%), except men who have sex with men, where it increased by 418%. In Latvia, it increased by 72% overall. Median time to diagnosis decreased for male PWID in Estonia, from 3.5 to 2.6 years, but not in Latvia. In 2016, most new and undiagnosed infections, ∼50% in Latvia and ∼75% in Estonia, affected individuals reporting heterosexual transmission, showing a gradual shift toward heterosexual route as the main reported exposure mode. Coverage of services had been higher in Estonia; for example, by 2016, for PWID, there were >200 needles and syringes distributed per PWID annually, and HIV testing and ART coverage reached ∼50% and 76%, respectively, in Estonia, against respectively less than 100%, 10% and 27% in Latvia.

CONCLUSIONS

Estonia has turned the tide of its epidemic - large scale-up of prevention and care programs probably contributed to it - whereas in Latvia it remains very active.