At-home test kits offer a convenient way to monitor health conditions privately, using advanced technologies for accurate and timely results.

The federal government has announced a $5 million investment to improve HIV prevention and support services for individuals living with the virus. This funding aims to increase access to self-testing kits and promote peer-based support initiatives in communities experiencing higher rates of HIV cases. Doug Eyolfson, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg West, emphasized that the initiative ensures equitable access to healthcare regardless of location, circumstances, or barriers faced by individuals. The program targets the estimated 7,000 Canadians unaware of their HIV status, aiming to connect them with necessary healthcare services. Dr. Joss Reimer, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, highlighted that early diagnosis through self-testing is crucial for effective management of the virus. Two self-testing kits are currently approved for use in Canada: the INSTI test, which requires a finger prick, and the OraQuick test, which uses an oral swab. Manitoba recently declared a public health emergency due to a sharp rise in HIV transmission rates, which are three times higher than the national average. Provincial Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara welcomed the federal funding, noting its importance for rural and remote communities where geographical barriers hinder access to care. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, approximately 70,900 people were living with HIV in Canada as of the end of 2024, with the number continuing to rise. The funding is expected to help address stigma and inequities that prevent individuals from seeking testing and treatment. The initiative aligns with broader efforts to reduce new HIV transmissions and improve health outcomes across the country.

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Background: HIV self-testing is an important strategy in the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative in the US. To facilitate uptake of HIV self-testing, our study team developed the mLab App, which complements existing self-test options to support the potential for higher uptake of the HIV self-test. Syphilis, an STI with currently rising prevalence and overlap in risk profiles, could similarly benefit from the advantages of companion diagnostic mobile apps like mLab. Due to the success of the mLab App in promoting HIV self-testing during a randomized controlled trial and the scientific evidence of need for at-home syphilis testing, our team developed the mLab App Plus which supports both HIV and syphilis testing through an image-processing algorithm that incorporates a duplex HIV/syphilis point-of-care test. Objective: We conducted a pilot study to assess the #feasibility and #usability of the mLab App Plus for HIV and syphilis testing. Methods: We recruited participants who were assigned male sex at birth and reported sex with another man. Participants came to the Nurse Practitioner Group Clinic for their baseline and follow-up visits to complete a survey and use the app to guide them through self-testing in the presence of a qualified clinician. Participants rated #usability of the app with the Health Information Technology #usability Evaluation (Health-ITUES) and the Post Study System #usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) at their 3-month follow-up visit. The primary outcome was the number of participants who were able to self-administer the DPP® HIV-Syphilis test with the assistance of the mLab App Plus. #feasibility was measured through recruitment pace, retention over 3 months, #usability of the app and paradata. Results: Nineteen of the 20 participants (95%) identified as male and 1 (5%) as nonbinary. Most participants (80%) were able to complete DPP HIV/Syphilis testing with facilitation support from the mLab App Plus. The average duration of an app session, from after authentication until logout or abandonment, was 30 minutes and 33 seconds. Notwithstanding the 27% of sessions that were 5 minutes or less, the distribution of session durations was approximately normal. Users spent the longest time viewing testing screens (i.e., timer screens, the initial testing screen, the tests guided walkthroughs, test results, and picture and results upload). The overall mean scores of the PSSUQ (2.65) and Health-ITUES (3.62) indicate medium to high #usability. The retention rate for the 3-month trial was 80%. Conclusions: Findings support the use of the mLab App Plus as a tool for assisting consumers to self-test for HIV and syphilis. Limitations of the study design warrant further examination outside of the clinic setting to better understand the utility of these tools for improving consumer health outcomes. Clinical Trial: NCT06059443

Mizoram adopts HIV self-testing to combat high infection rates, ensuring privacy and accessibility. The initiative aligns with India's National AIDS Control Programme to end HIV/AIDS by 2030.

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The sensitivity of detecting HIV-1 antibodies in saliva samples collected with the Self-Lollisponge device was 72.9% (86/118). Detection of HIV-1 antibodies in saliva depended on the presence of ...