Express Testing and Same-day Initiation of PrEP Study

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: HIV Prevention
• Interventions: Drug: Descovy

• Registration Number: NCT05690815
• Lead Sponsor: HQ Toronto

Brief Summary

This study is an observational cohort study to measure the impact of express testing and same-day initiation of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) on outcomes related to the PrEP cascade. The investigators expect that same day initiation for PrEP will improve PrEP uptake. The investigators hypothesize that baseline HIV test positivity will be higher than that of general testing for gbMSM in Ontario. This is a key indicator to determine whether this targeted approach is able to access the highest risk population.

Detailed Description

Gay, bisexual men who have sex with men (gbMSM) account for over half of new HIV infections in Canada each year, experience a disproportionately high burden of new HIV infections, and a 131-fold higher risk of HIV than other Canadian men. Transgender women (TGW) are a population also at increased HIV risk and a priority for HIV prevention.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for prevention of HIV infection using regular oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) or tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine (TAF/FTC) is an effective and safe HIV prevention option for MSM and data from the Canadian setting shows that awareness, interest and willingness to use PrEP have been rising in this population. Accessing PrEP is currently a multistep process, often across several healthcare settings, that creates unnecessary barriers leading to attrition or delays in initiation. Although PrEP uptake has increased over time in Ontario, there is a significant proportion of gbMSM who are not on PrEP that would benefit from initiation. In multiple studies of the PrEP cascade, drop off in patient participation can be seen at each -level of the continuum often as a result of delays in the accessibility of starting PrEP and the multiple steps required by patients.

The success of PrEP has led to a decrease in HIV diagnoses among men in Ontario in recent years, however, Black and Latinx gbMSM, and TGW make up a disproportionate percentage of positive diagnoses. Despite recent increases in PrEP uptake, it is well understood that BIPOC experience barriers when accessing PrEP, leading to lower rates of uptake compared to white gbMSM. A critical component of the HIV care continuum in Ontario will be to increase the uptake of testing and PrEP use within those populations experiencing disproportionate risk, as well as people who experience mental health or substance use issues.

Currently in Ontario, the turnaround time between sample collection and a confirmatory positive HIV test to the provider can be a week or more. The HQ lab is designed to conduct laboratory HIV screening within 1 to 2 hours and confirmatory testing onsite in approximately 3 to 4 hours. This will allow the HQ team to offer same-day PrEP initiation for eligible participants in less than 2 hours following a negative HIV screening test. No other clinical program has been able to draw the blood sample, have both the screening and confirmatory lab-based testing done, give the diagnosis, and initiate PrEP on the same day.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-01-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-01-10
• Study First Posted: 2023-01-19
• Study Start: 2023-01-24
• Status Verified: 2024-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-03-27
• Last Update Posted: 2024-03-29
• Primary Completion: 2024-11-30
• Study Completion: 2024-11-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 816

Inclusion Criteria

Patients 16 years of age and older, visiting HQ for express testing, HIV negative and not currently on PrEP.

Exclusion criteria: Patients under the age of 16 years of age, currently on PrEP, or living with HIV.

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
gbMSM	Descovy	This study will enroll gay, bisexual men who have sex with men (gbMSM), transgender and gender non-binary participants.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Uptake of PrEP in a rapid, same day treatment initiation setting.	January 2023 to January 2024	The primary objective is to assess PrEP uptake in a rapid, same day treatment initiation setting. This includes proportion of those eligible for PrEP that initiate treatment on the same day as testing. All persons will be offered express laboratory testing onsite, which will greatly improve the time for PrEP initiation. Those people who test negative for HIV, and are eligible for PrEP based on a risk score, will be offered PrEP same day. The investigators expect that same day initiation for PrEP will improve PrEP uptake.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Uptake of PrEP among key groups	January 2023 to January 2024	The secondary objective is to measure PrEP uptake among key risk groups. HQ provides target testing programs for high risk people, including Black and Latinx gbMSM, transgender and gender non-binary individuals, as well as those who experience mental health concerns and use substances. The study will assess if same-day initiation for key groups will prevent loss to follow up and will enable higher PrEP uptake among stigmatized and marginalized communities.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

HQ Toronto; 🇨🇦 Toronto, Ontario, Canada