A researcher at the University of British Columbia (UBC) has pioneered a new HIV prevention strategy that focuses on those who are at a low-risk of infection or believe they are HIV-negative.
As head of the AIDS division of UBC’s medicine faculty, Dr. Julio Montaner has been doing research on HIV for decades.
In seeking to expand HIV testing beyond only at-risk communities, he said he hopes to eliminate the stigma associated with getting tested.
“We’ve now come forward with a solution, and if we want to bring the stigma under control we need to remain cautious by doing two fundamental things: normalize HIV testing and ensure that everyone who is tested is supported by changing the perception that only at risk people need to be tested,” Montaner said.
HIV testing should be offered to anyone who has been sexually active once in the last five decades, he added.
“If we do that, we are changing the approach to testing.”
The testing will take place on a volunteer basis with a rapid result test that only takes a minute to determine an individual’s status.
The rapid result test allows for testing, results and counselling to be done in one single visit.
UBC science student Jonathan Dufour said he’d willingly participate in the process.
“I would definitely volunteer because of the quick access to results. You can never be too careful,” he said.
“Every school should consider this to contribute to eliminating the stigma and eradicating a horrible disease,” Dufour said.
According to Montaner, he and his team were involved in an earlier program at St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital, and various other Vancouver clinics giving the rapid HIV test to 20,000 patients.
“Ninety-nine per cent tested HIV-negative, but one per cent received a positive status,” Montaner said.
“It is important to find the one person who is positive because they are often unaware.”
In order to justify funding for this project, he said studies have shown HIV testing is effective if you can find one positive per thousand people.
To be successful, there must be a fundamental effort put forth to change the social culture to ensure protection of those tested, Montaner said.
Carleton Health and Councilling Services offers HIV and STI testing, but are not allowed to offer rapid testing, according to mental health nurse Patty Allen.
“Our clinic offers non-nominal testing which consists of an HIV blood test sent to the lab with a code on it that is only known to the individual, the lab technician and your doctor. A follow-up appointment is arranged for a week later to review the results,” she said.
“Those who want anonymous testing are referred.”
There are ten anonymous HIV testing clinics in Ottawa that are used and funded by provincial health, according to Allen.
In terms of Montaner’s approach, Allen said she agrees that the sooner people are getting tested, the better.
“HIV testing is available to everyone regardless of risk behaviour. Generally students going in for STI testing usually wanted to be tested for everything and our clinic is quite happy to do that,” Allen said.
Montaner maintains that he and his team would like to see more progress in the development of HIV prevention strategies.
“The province of British Columbia has paid attention to harm reduction programs within the community at large and is comfortable moving forward,” he said.
“However, to advance federally there needs to be a conversation about public health and financing resources.”
Carleton Health and Counselling Services does not do routine HIV testing with other blood work.
It must be requested and the patient must give informed consent.
