Online self-sampling kits for human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted infections: Feasibility, positivity rates, and factors associated with infections in France.

BACKGROUND

Men who have sex with men are increasingly diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STI) in France. To address this situation, quarterly screening for HIV combined with hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV), as well as annual screening for C.trachomatis (CT) and N.gonorrhoeae (NG) are recommended. The MemoDepistages program offered an at-home screening solution for these infections. This study describes the feasibility of this screening process, the rate of positive test results, and the factors associated with positivity.

METHODS

Participants were recruited online. Laboratories verified the quantity and quality of the samples. Logistic regression was used to determine the associated factors for infection.

RESULTS

Overall, 1556 out of 1908 (81.6%) blood samples were tested for at least HIV. A total of eight participants (0.5%) were newly diagnosed with HIV and four with HCV (0.3%). No new infection was confirmed for HBV. Overall positivity was 9.3% for CT and 9.6% for NG. The highest positivity was reported in rectal swabs for CT (7.3%) and in pharyngeal swabs for NG (7.2%). Factors associated with extragenital CT/NG were age under 30 years (for pharyngeal and rectal infections) and having at least 10 partners in the past 6 months (p<0.001) (for pharyngeal infections only).

CONCLUSIONS

The self-sampling kit for multiple STIs can perform comprehensive tests and identify new infections in young people, especially in extragenital sites.