Journal Article

Time for HIV self-testing in Canada: a vision and an action plan

Thomas, Réjean, Pai, Nitika Pant

2020

Overview

In 2020, compared against the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 targets for HIV elimination (95% tested for HIV, 95% treated and 95% retained in treatment), Canada stands at 86% tested, 81% treated, 91% retained in treatment. Despite the availability of HIV testing, about 14%-20% of Canadians infected with HIV are not aware that they are infected. Undetected HIV burden is high in specific populations such as Indigenous people, people who inject drugs, immigrants and men who have sex with men. The latest HIV surveillance data in Quebec reported that 25.5% of individuals who received a new diagnosis of HIV in 2018 had a CD4 level of less than 200/mm3. Finally, large-scale Canadian trials and cost-effectiveness studies evaluating the implementation of HIVST are needed to guide the formulation of federal and provincial HIVST-specific policies and guidelines. Introduction of HIVST in Canada should lead to better detection of HIV in underdiagnosed populations who currently face barriers to testing, as well as improve HIV management, bringing us closer to the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.

• Publisher: Elsevier Inc,Joule Inc,CMA Impact, Inc
• Subject: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome / AIDS / Cost analysis / Counseling / Drug stores / FDA approval / Funding / Gays & lesbians / Health planning / HIV / HIV tests / Human immunodeficiency virus / Internal Medicine / Laboratories / Medical tests / Mens health / Methods / Pharmacy / Smartphones / Urine