1. Gay male couples’ attitude toward using an over-the-counter rapid HIV test (HT) in their home Jason W. Mitchell, MPH, PhD* Assistant Professor University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA *No personal or financial relationships of conflict to disclose

2. Background / Methods Problem: HIV testing rates remain low among gay male couples, regardless of whether they practice unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) within and/or outside of their relationships. 1-3 Question: An over-the-counter rapid HIV home test (HT) kit is now available in the US, but will gay male couples use a HT? Aims: To assess couples’ attitude, and factors associated with their attitude, toward use of a HT. –National, cross-sectional, Internet-based study to collect dyadic data from 275 HIV- negative and 58 discordant gay male couples; 631 HIV-negative MSM –Questionnaire contained a variety of demographic, behavioral, and relationship measures. –Multilevel regression modeling; backward stepwise eliminate method –Outcome: “How likely would you use a HT that provided your test result within minutes?” Likert-type scale from 0 “Not all” to 4 “Extremely likely” M = 2.8 (SD 1.2)  “Somewhat to very likely” In general, this was a sample of well educated, employed, white, urban gay male couples who practice UAI in their relationships.

3. Key Findings

4. Implications HIV-negative MSM in HIV discordant couples had more positive attitudes toward using a HT than HIV-negative MSM in concordantly negative couples. Less positive attitudes toward use of a HT were associated with gay male couples who were well educated, resourceful, and had access to a primary care provider. More positive attitudes toward use of a HT were associated with gay male couples who were mixed race and behaviorally sexually non-monogamous. And to a lesser extent, gay male couples who use substances with sex. Providing additional HIV testing methods, like the HT, is critical and necessary for HIV prevention. Promotion of HT should be considered for certain, select subgroups of gay male couples in the U.S. Further research is warranted.

5. References 1. Mitchell JW, Petroll AE. Patterns of HIV and sexually transmitted infection testing among men who have sex with men couples in the United States. Sex Transm Dis. 2012;39:871- 876. 2. Mitchell JW, Petroll AE. HIV testing rates and factors associated with recent HIV testing among male couples. Sex Transm Dis. 2012;39:1-3. 3. Chakravarty D, Hoff CC, Neilands, et al. Rates of testing for HIV in the presence of serodiscordant UAI among HIV-negative gay men in committed relationships. AIDS Behav. 2012;16:1944-1948.

6. Thank you! Jason W. Mitchell, MPH, PhD Assistant Professor University of Michigan School of Nursing Health Promotion and Risk Reduction Programs 400 N. Ingalls, Office 3343 Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482 Phone: 734.647.0349 Email: jwmitche@umich.edu Skype: jwmitchellphd