Assessment of HIV prevalence among MSM in Tokyo using self-collected dried blood spots delivered through the postal service.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk of HIV infection. However, there are only few data on HIV prevalence in MSM in Japan. The objective of this study was to explore the HIV prevalence in MSM at Shinjuku 2-chome, a well known gay quarter in Tokyo.

Methods

MSM directly collected the dried blood spot (DBS) self-collection HIV test kit from a drop-in center in Shinjuku 2-chome between August 2015 and December 2016. The participants collected their own blood by finger-prick and anonymously posted the kit to the laboratory. The participants accessed the study website and checked the results of their tests using unique ID and password. DBS was soaked in phosphate buffered saline overnight and the eluted sample was examined by the fourth generation HIV Ag/Ab

SUBMITTER: Takano M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6282288 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature