[HIV-STD-Prevention] #u# INFORMATION: NWPAIHB launching STD/HIV home testing program in Oregon

[Pearson Shelley M]

Dear LPHA Partners,

On September 1st, the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (Board) launched a new STD/HIV testing program on called Indigenous I Want the Kit [IIWTK (https://iwantthekit.org/)]. The Oregon launch of IIWTK, which is part of a national home testing program affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, will be launched in 2 phases:

  *   Phase 1 includes gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trich testing (launched September 1)
  *   Phase 2 will include phase syphilis and HIV (launching sometime after November 1 - more information about Phase 2 forthcoming as we learn more).

IIWTK will be marketed specifically to American Indian/Alaska Native people and tribal members, but anyone age 14 or older may use the service.

As part of this program, the Board will be assuming responsibility for the initial follow up on persons with positive test results. Board responsibilities will include:

*        Notifying the patient of their result;

*        Refer patient for treatment;

*        Provide harm reduction and prevention education

*        Confirm treatment was received;

*        Refer patient to Tell Your Partner or a similar service;

*        Refer patient to PrEP services (if HIV-negative);

*        They will NOT be providing traditional partner services activities but will inform patients with positive tests that someone from their respective LPHA may be contacting them for partner services.

Currently, the Board does not have Orpheus access. The Orpheus security oversight team is investigating options to add the Board as an Orpheus user without jeopardizing our security protocols. In the meantime, we are working to a create a reporting tool the Board can use to securely report case follow up information to the respective LPHA after they have completed follow up. The reporting tool will include:

  *   REALD
  *   SOGI
  *   Treatment
  *   Exposure/Risk

In the next few weeks, you may see ELRs for gonorrhea being reported as part of IWTK. We have not seen an example of the ELRs yet, but the reporting laboratory should be Johns Hopkins and/or there could be some designation of the ELR indicating it is from I Want the Kit.  Please process these ELRs as you normally would but do not begin follow up activities. The test results will be simultaneously reported to the Board, and we have asked them to contact the LPHA of record to confirm they will be following up. We will be providing the Board with a list of primary contacts at each LPHA to call.

Ashley Hoover and Jessica Rienstra from the Board will be contacting patients. Their contact information is:
ahoover at npaihb.org<mailto:ahoover at npaihb.org>
jrienstra at npaihb.org<mailto:jrienstra at npaihb.org>

If you want to learn more about this project, Ashley will be providing a brief introduction of IWTK at the September 14th Orpheus Users Group Webinar.

The Board also presented information about IIWTK along with background about HIV/STI in Indian Country at a recent End HIV/STI Oregon Statewide Planning Group meeting. Notes from that meeting can be found at:
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/HIVSTDVIRALHEPATITIS/IPG/Documents/Notes_OSPG_Mtg-8-16-23.pdf

As always, please feel free to contact us with questions - Lea Bush (lea.bush at oha.oregon.gov<mailto:lea.bush at oha.oregon.gov>) or Jillian Garai (jillian.d.garai at oha.oregon.gov<mailto:jillian.d.garai at oha.oregon.gov>).

Thank you,

Annick Benson-Scott
Pronouns: she/her/hers
HIV/STD/TB Section Manager
OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY
Public Health Division
Desk: 971-673-0142
Cell: 971-255-7092
Hours: M-F 7:00 am - 3:30 pm
http://www.oregon.gov/OHA
[cid:image001.png at 01D9DCE7.4B6FE240]<http://www.endhivoregon.org/>

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