The purpose of the HIV Testing Strategies Subcommittee is to:
- Identify strategies for HIV screening and understand their application within the BC context, based on available evidence of impact or with consideration of innovation where evidence gaps exist (related to STOP HIV Goal II: To improve the effectiveness of HIV screening and early detection).
- Recommend a standardized approach to enhancing HIV screening across both pilot project sites, that is responsive to regional differences in health data (i.e., surveillance and testing data), health system capacity, and ongoing HIV screening initiatives
The group meets on a monthly basis and consists of representatives from BC Centre for Disease Control, BC Centre for Excellence, Vancouver Coastal Health, Northern Health, Providence Health Care, Provincial Health Services Authority Labs, Living Positive BC, PAN, Renewing Our Response, and Central Interior Native Health Society. Heidi Standeven currently sits on this committee on behalf of PAN.
The committee reports to the STOP Leadership Committee and is currently chaired by Dr. Mark Gilbert (BCCDC). Decisions are made by consensus when possible, or a majority vote of 80%.
Scope:
Identification of strategies and recommend approaches to enhance HIV screening for implementation within the STOP HIV pilot project. Program implementation and evaluation is out of scope as a primary objective but this committee may support implementation and evaluation activities if requested.
Activities:
- Review of published and grey literature for innovations in screening and evidence of effectiveness of screening strategies, with identification of knowledge gaps
- Develop strategies for enhanced HIV screening for the STOP HIV Pilot project
Additional activities may include:
- Review additional analyses of testing and surveillance data to inform the need for and the selection and implementation of HIV screening strategies
- Develop common resources related to HIV testing
Available Documents:
Review – Elliot – Pre and post test counselling Oct 2010
Review – Hottes – Alternative methods pre post test counselling Oct 2010
Review – Steinberg – Provider initiated testing with testing – Oct 2010 v2
Recommendations 1 – HIV Testing Strategies Subcommittee – Final
