Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Dried-blood spot (DBS) sampling is a way of easily collecting blood samples that can be carried out by any trained individual, with no professional designation required. DBS samples can be tested for the presence of HIV and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), thereby giving an estimate of the level of each virus that is present in the population that is sampled. Knowing the burden of these viruses can help identify priorities for prevention and treatment programs and for areas of research. DBS sampling hasn't been used widely in HIV or HCV testing settings, so this research project evaluates what the impact of DBS was in a community-based Canadian health survey survey of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) called Sex Now 2018. GBMSM were recruited at 16 LGBTQ Pride festivals across Canada from June to September 2018. Participants had the option to provide DBS samples for HIV/HCV testing and could opt-in to receiving the results of these tests. Among 3634 total participants in Sex Now 2018, 85% (3106 participants) provided DBS samples for HIV and HCV testing. HIV was detected in 7% of all DBS samples and HCV infection was found in 0.3% of all DBS samples. 2% of the DBS samples did not have a sufficient sample that could be tested for HIV and 4% were insufficient for HCV testing. Most of the participants opted into receiving the results of the HIV and HCV tests. Sex Now 2018 represents the largest cross-sectional survey using DBS as a way of collecting biological samples for testing. DBS sampling had a reasonably high uptake, and the majority of DBS samples were sufficient for laboratory testing. Public health organizations and health survey researchers could benefit from using DBS sampling, with the option of returning participants' test results, as a relatively easy way of measuring HIV and HCV in specific populations that are affected by these viruses.