The acceptability of oral fluid testing for HIV antibodies. A pilot study in gay bars in a predominantly rural state.
BACKGROUND
One barrier for individuals desiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing has been the lack of alternatives to blood HIV testing. Oral fluid HIV testing provides another testing option.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the acceptability of oral fluid testing for HIV antibodies in a gay bar outreach setting.


METHODS
This pilot study was conducted using the HIV Risk Behavior Survey (HRBS) and OraSure acceptability survey in gay bars in Columbia, South Carolina during July and August, 1997.


RESULTS
Of the 118 HRBS participants, 54% agreed to take the oral fluid test with 6% testing positive. A majority (91%) of participants felt comfortable with the oral HIV antibody testing in gay bars. Also, 21.8% of individuals in the OraSure study were tested for the first time.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that oral fluid testing for HIV antibodies in an outreach setting is acceptable and effective in reaching individuals who do not usually access traditional testing sites.
Sy
F S
FS
University of South Carolina School of Public Health, Columbia 29208, USA.
Rhodes
S D
SD
Choi
S T
ST
Drociuk
D
D
Laurent
A A
AA
Naccash
R M
RM
Kettinger
L D
LD
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012424:Rural Population; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior
D015483:HIV Antibodies