By Ethan Covey
In its first year, the CDC-funded HIV self-test program, Together TakeMeHome (TTMH), delivered approximately 440,000 mailed HIV self-tests to U.S. residents, including many who had never previously received testing.
The total of delivered tests exceeded the program’s initial expectations of 200,000 (MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73[24]:558-564).
“HIV self-testing removes barriers to accessing HIV testing and gives people the power to test on their own terms,” said Travis Sanchez, DVM, a research professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, in Atlanta, and the executive director of the TTMH HIV self-test distribution program. “Our program highlights that there is great demand for HIV self-testing, even by people who may have never previously tested.”
During March 14, 2023, through March 13, 2024, a total of 440,000 tests were delivered to 219,360 people.
From a total of 169,623 people who answered at least one question included on a post-order questionnaire, 24.1% had never tested previously for HIV, and 24.8% had not received testing during the past year. Nearly 12% accessed additional preventive services after receiving their tests, and 1.9% reported a new positive HIV test result.
Dr. Sanchez said he hopes TTMH will continue to grow as awareness increases.
“Our program will be even more successful in meeting our public health goals if we can raise awareness of the program among populations disproportionately impacted by HIV, including cisgender men who have sex with men, transgender persons and cisgender African American women,” he said.
