An oral HIV self-test (HIVST) (model - OraQuick™ test manufactured by Orasure Technologies Inc)

HIV self-testing is a process in which a person collects his or her own specimen (oral fluid or blood) and then performs an HIV test and interprets the result, often in a private setting, either alone or with someone he or she trusts.

HIV self-testing (HIVST) is a discrete, empowering and innovative way to increase HIV testing among people who are harder to reach with ‘classical’ testing strategies located at clinics. These include so-called ‘key populations’ such as sex workers, drug users, men who have sex with men, prisoners, adolescents, and people living in low HIV prevalence settings – where many people live who are unaware of their HIV status.

Self-testing is empowering because it gives people the freedom when to take the test, and how to make their own pathway into care. However, it’s critical that self-testing be seen as a screening tool only, a first step that should lead to treatment. A positive self-test must be followed up by a confirmatory test at a clinic, where someone can be started on treatment. And a negative test should be followed by the continued practice of safe sex and regular follow up testing in case of unprotected sex.

In the coming years, MSF plans to support large-scale implementation of HIV self-testing in its HIV programs, to increase testing and linkage to care among people so far unaware of their infection and stepping up testing and care for vulnerable ‘key populations’. Projects will deliberately encompass a variety of operational, security, HIV prevalence settings, to address multiple target populations and test out various delivery strategies. Teams will work on a variety of research questions that so far remain unaddressed in the area of HIV self testing research.