“How for Now:” Overcoming Barriers and Routinizing HIV Self-Testing

Adapting to an ever-changing pandemic landscape has both created barriers and sparked innovation in the field of HIV testing. Programs have been forced to adapt in order to meet clients where they are by effectively updating and changing services based on the frequent shifts in national, state, and local COVID-19 protocols. Providers are tasked with effectively communicating these changes to their patients and promoting strategies to keep them engaged in care. This session will cover the shift from in-person testing to self-testing models, exploring successes, barriers, innovation, and routinizing HIV testing in this time.Adapting to an ever-changing pandemic landscape has both created barriers and sparked innovation in the field of HIV testing. Programs have been forced to adapt in order to meet clients where they are by effectively updating and changing services based on the frequent shifts in national, state, and local COVID-19 protocols. Providers are tasked with effectively communicating these changes to their patients and promoting strategies to keep them engaged in care. This session will cover the shift from in-person testing to self-testing models, exploring successes, barriers, innovation, and routinizing HIV testing in this time.