ANRS–COM'TEST: description of a community-based HIV testing intervention in non-medical settings for men who have sex with men

OBJECTIVE: To describe a community-based HIV testing programme. DESIGN AND SETTING: An intervention of HIV voluntary testing conducted in non-medical settings in four French cities. PARTICIPANTS: Men who have sex with men (MSM). INTERVENTION: Counselling and rapid HIV testing staffed by trained personnel from an HIV/AIDS community-based organisation. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The population that has taken hold of the intervention and the satisfaction of participants. Data were collected on demographics, HIV testing history, sexual practices and satisfaction with the testing programme. RESULTS: 532 MSM were tested between February 2009 and June 2010, of whom 49 (9%) were tested two or more times. 468 MSM (88%) had casual male partners in the previous 6 months, and 152 (35%) reported having unprotected anal intercourse with risky casual partners (HIV infected or HIV serostatus unknown). 159 men (30%) had not been tested in the previous 2 years, and 50 (31%) of whom had unprotected anal intercourse with risky casual partners. Among the 15 patients who tested positive (2.8%), 12 (80%) received confirmation and were linked to care (median CD4 cell count =550/mm(3)). Satisfaction was high: 92% reported being ‘very satisfied’ with their experience. Steps of counselling and testing procedure were respected by testers and difficulties in handling tests were rare. CONCLUSIONS: This community-based HIV testing programme reached high-risk MSM, of whom a substantial proportion had not been tested lately. This novel service supplements pre-existing HIV testing services and increases access to HIV testing in high-risk groups.