Bringing self-collection kits for STBBI testing to scale for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada: How should we do this?

This report offers recommendations for organizations wanting to develop self-collection kit programs for sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI) testing for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transfer, queer and/or questioning, intersex, asexual, and additional gender and sexual identities (2SLGBTQIA+) people in Canada. These recommendations are based on information gathered at a workshop at Summit 2022 and lessons learned through our organizations’ experiences in implementing low-barrier testing programs.  

Recommendations:

1. Developing a self-collection kit program should be centred on the needs of potential users, and carefully consider the client experience going through all steps of the pathway (for example, designing processes to be as simple as possible).
2. Identify and engage the groups in your community with facing the greatest barriers to accessing existing STBBI testing services that you are hoping to reach and incorporate their feedback in the development of self-collection kit program (i.e., the people who would benefit the most).
3. Online options for ordering test kits and for getting results may reach the most people and be most preferred compared to other options. However, not everyone will want or be able to use an online service, and other options should also be available.
4. Provide several ways for people to get instructions on using the kit. Written instructions accompanying the kit should be written using accessible language and accompanied by pictures or illustrations. Instructions should also be available by video online, and people should be able to call, email or text someone to help support their use of the kit.
5. Include an option for users not to use their real name through non-nominal testing (e.g., testing using a code).
6. The contents of the self-collection kit should be comprehensive and include as many specimen types as possible for STBBI testing (e.g., blood, urine, swabs).
7. How self-collection kits are returned to the lab for testing should be tailored to the population that may most benefit and the characteristics of the communities where it is available. Following up with reminders by email or text will help improve kit return rates.
8. Establish clearly defined pathways for people with positive results to speak to a provider and be connected to care for treatment, prior to launching the service.
9. Review any regulations or requirements for STBBI testing in your region that need to be met by a self-collection kit program, as these may differ across Canada and may impact how the program can be run (e.g., requirements for who can order STBBI testing).
10. Start with a pilot phase to determine barriers that may be unanticipated, and then adapt accordingly (e.g., challenges with courier, instructions for drop-off, process for returning results).

Read the report for more information:

• Why does this issue matter?
• What are self-collection kits for STBBI testing?
• What do we know about their use by 2SLGBTQIA+ people?
• Why did we do this workshop at Summit 2022?
• What did the workshop involve?
• What did we learn?
• What are the recommendations for organizations wanting to develop self-collection kit programs for STBBI testing for 2SLGBTQIA+ people?