Previously submitted to: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (no longer under consideration since Jun 25, 2020)
Date Submitted: Jan 10, 2020
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Feasibility and acceptability of home blood self-sampling for HIV, HBV and HCV in the general french population in 2016 : results of BaroTest, an observational study in a large random sample.
ABSTRACT
Background:
Despite high levels of screening for HIV and hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses in France, many people remain undiagnosed.
Objective:
In this context, the French national public health agency tested HBV, HCV, and HIV screening in the general population based on home self-collected blood samples on dried blood spot (DBS).
Methods:
Participants were recruited between January and August 2016 among the interviewees of the 2016-Health Barometer survey who were offered a self-sampling kit at home for free HIV, HBV and HCV screening. (RR1-10.2196/9797)
Results:
The kit was accepted by 73.7% of participants and was returned to the laboratory by half of them. The overall participation rate was 37.3%, with no difference between gender. The factors associated with kit acceptance for both men and women were the place of residence, potential situations of exposure to HIV or HBV and HCV, and opinions about HIV screening. For women, a specific effect of perceived level of income and recent prevention behavior were also associated with kit acceptance. A better return of the DBS to the laboratory was associated with an age over 30yo, being born in France mainland, and a high perceived income for both men and women. For men, however, not knowing their HBV vaccination status was associated with a lower return rate. Nearly 99% of the blood samples could be tested for the three infections.
Conclusions:
These results demonstrate the high acceptability and feasibility of HBV, HCV, and HIV screening at home using a self-sampling kit with DBS. This solution could be an alternative to other screening methods with unequal access across the country.
Citation
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