Results of a Social Network Testing Intervention for HIV in Infectious Disease Clinics

• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2178-2
• Publication Date: 2018-06-05T06:42:47Z
• Authors: Anna LeViere; Jenna Donovan; Aimee Wilkin; Jennifer Keller; Heather Parnell; Lynne Sampson; Cynthia L. Gay; Evelyn Byrd Quinl...
• Keywords: Health psychology

Social networks can be leveraged to identify undiagnosed HIV-infected individuals. The NC-LINK clinic-based testing initiative utilized these networks to achieve a 5% (95% CI 1.1-8.9%) positivity rate by providing free HIV testing to anyone who accompanied an HIV-infected patient to their clinic appointment. During 2013-2015, 120 individuals were tested at two clinics (N > 1000 patients each) in North Carolina, with 5 new and 6 total positive results. Of these, three linked to care within 30 days and all within 365 days. If expanded further, this initiative could significantly increase the number of HIV-infected individuals aware of their status.