Recorded presentation

Rob A. Lunn, MPA¹, Colin Flynn, ScM¹, Claudia Gray, RN, MS², Jenny Bolster, RN, MS¹, Jenna Burt, MPH¹, and C. Christmyer, RN, MS². (1) Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, AIDS Administration, 500 N. Calvert Street, 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-767-5035, rlunn@dhmh.state.md.us, (2) AIDS Administration, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 500 North Calvert Street, 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202

Issues: The OraQuick HIV-1 Rapid Testing device was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2002 and received a CLIA waiver in January 2003 permitting its use in clinical settings. The Maryland AIDS Administration sought to add this new 20-minute testing technology to the testing options available at the 70,000 annual publicly funded testing encounters in Maryland.

Description: The steps to implementing rapid testing included planning meetings, discussions with State Laboratory officials and the State Office of Health Care Quality, reviewing information from national organizations, and developing laboratory manuals, training material, and quality assurance procedures. The 380 statewide testing sites were surveyed to assess their interest in and readiness to use rapid testing. Fourteen initial testing sites were selected to pilot and evaluate rapid testing. Evaluation forms were developed to collect supplemental information and procedures were implemented to monitor testing quality and follow-up discrepant results. Initial implementation was planned for September 2003, began in October and was fully operational by February 2004.

Lessons Learned: Implementation of new technologies requires extensive planning and communication. Unrealistically high expectations existed for performance and utility of the test. Many sites were initially interested but unable to participate in rapid testing. Preliminary results show high client interest in rapid testing, increased post-test counseling and referrals to care, and increasing acceptance by testing sites.

Recommendations: Rapid HIV testing should continue to be expanded to additional sites, but is not appropriate for all environments and requires substantial training and monitoring to be properly implemented.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop an HIV-1 rapid testing program, which adheres to federal and state guidelines, that will enhance clinical site's abilities to better reach difficult target populations and greatly increase clients' knowledge of their HIV status.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Community Health Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation