title: Electronic vending machines for dispensing rapid HIV self-testing kits: a case study.
abstract: This short report evaluates the feasibility of using electronic vending machines for dispensing oral, fluid, rapid HIV self-testing kits in Los Angeles County. Feasibility criteria that needed to be addressed were defined as: (1) ability to find a manufacturer who would allow dispensing of HIV testing kits and could fit them to the dimensions of a vending machine, (2) ability to identify and address potential initial obstacles, trade-offs in choosing a machine location, and (3) ability to gain community approval for implementing this approach in a community setting. To address these issues, we contracted a vending machine company who could supply a customized, Internet-enabled machine that could dispense HIV kits and partnered with a local health center available to host the machine onsite and provide counseling to participants, if needed. Vending machines appear to be feasible technologies that can be used to distribute HIV testing kits.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Family Medicine , David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Sean D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klausner
authors.forename: Risa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fynn
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bolan
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D003132:Commerce / Q000379:methods*; D003376:Counseling; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology*; D012648:Self Care
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic