Faculty Collaboration Database

Acceptability and Feasibility of Self-Collected Dried Blood Spot Specimens for Viral Load Monitoring among Rural Older People Living with HIV. AIDS Behav 2025 Apr;29(4):1247-1255

Date

01/27/2025

Pubmed ID

39865197

Pubmed Central ID

PMC11985277

DOI

10.1007/s10461-024-04599-2

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85217412638 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   3 Citations

Abstract

Self-collected dried blood spot (DBS) samples may be useful in monitoring viral load (VL) in research studies or clinically given that they eliminate the need for participants to travel to study sites or laboratories. Despite this, little information exists about monitoring VL using DBS self-collected at home, and no information exists on DBS for this use among older rural people living with HIV (PLH), a population that could benefit from self-collection given difficulty accessing care. We report on the feasibility and acceptability of self-collected DBS samples, DBS VL results, concordance between self-reported and DBS VL, and factors associated with DBS detectable VL in a rural Southern U.S. sample of PLH aged 50 years and older. Between 2021 and 2022, 61 older rural PLH from 9 Southern U.S. states (M_age = 58, 25% female) completed survey measures and self-collected DBS specimens at home; 51 of these participants completed the same procedures at 3-month follow-up. Nearly all participants (96-98%) collected DBS specimens that could be successfully analyzed for VL, and participants found self-collection highly acceptable. Approximately one quarter of participants had quantifiable detectable VL (≥ 839 copies/mL) at each time point. Concordance between self-reported and DBS VL was 69% at baseline and 82% at follow-up; the majority of those with DBS detectable VL self-reported undetectable VL (86% at baseline and 60% at follow-up). Self-collection of DBS specimens for VL monitoring can add value to research conducted remotely, including research associated with the care of rural and/or older PLH.

Author List

Walsh JL, Hirshfield S, John SA, Quinn KG, Algiers OH, McAuliffe TL, Petroll AE

Authors

Timothy L. McAuliffe PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Andrew Petroll MD Interim Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Katherine Quinn PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jennifer L. Walsh PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Blood Specimen Collection
Dried Blood Spot Testing
Feasibility Studies
Female
HIV Infections
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Rural Population
Self Care
Specimen Handling
United States
Viral Load