This document discusses a study testing the effectiveness of installing HIV home test kit vending machines in commercial sex venues in Los Angeles County. The vending machines were stocked with home test kits and monitored remotely to track usage. Over 6 months, the vending machines distributed 312 test kits during 1,176 hours of availability, compared to 58 tests distributed by traditional testers over 64 hours. The results suggest vending machines may be better than traditional testing at reaching the unique population that frequents commercial sex venues.

2. Commercial Sex Venues
• Commercial sex venue (CSV) in Los
Angeles County (LA County)
• High-risk population that ‘cruise’ for
anonymous sex
• LA County requires CSVs to provide HIV
testing and education

3. Barriers to Testing
• CSV culture
• Client demographics vary
• Busy hours at night versus tester
availability

4. HIV Home Test Kit

5. Vending Machines
• Self-contained unit
• Remote monitoring
• Instructions posted

6. Initial Concerns
• Cost of HIV home test kits
• Emptying the vending machine
• Conflict with existing testers
• Home test kit window period
• Result anxiety
• Gateway to more comprehensive
testing

7. Results
• Scatterplots by week
• Tester schedule (orange blocks):
– Tuesday 9am-5pm
– Thursday 9am-5pm
– Sunday 12pm-4pm

8. Results (12/1-12/7)
12:00 AM
3:00 AM
6:00 AM
9:00 AM
12:00 PM
3:00 PM
6:00 PM
9:00 PM
12:00 AM
11/30/14 12/1/14 12/2/14 12/3/14 12/4/14 12/5/14 12/6/14 12/7/14 12/8/14

9. Results (12/15-12/21)
12:00 AM
3:00 AM
6:00 AM
9:00 AM
12:00 PM
3:00 PM
6:00 PM
9:00 PM
12:00 AM
12/14/14 12/15/14 12/16/14 12/17/14 12/18/14 12/19/14 12/20/14 12/21/14 12/22/14

10. Results (12/22-12/28)
12:00 AM
3:00 AM
6:00 AM
9:00 AM
12:00 PM
3:00 PM
6:00 PM
9:00 PM
12:00 AM
12/21/14 12/22/14 12/23/14 12/24/14 12/25/14 12/26/14 12/27/14 12/28/14 12/29/14

11. Results (12/29-1/4)
12:00 AM
3:00 AM
6:00 AM
9:00 AM
12:00 PM
3:00 PM
6:00 PM
9:00 PM
12:00 AM
12/28/14 12/29/14 12/30/14 12/31/14 1/1/15 1/2/15 1/3/15 1/4/15 1/5/15

12. Results (1/5-1/11)
12:00 AM
3:00 AM
6:00 AM
9:00 AM
12:00 PM
3:00 PM
6:00 PM
9:00 PM
12:00 AM
1/4/15 1/5/15 1/6/15 1/7/15 1/8/15 1/9/15 1/10/15 1/11/15 1/12/15

13. Results (1/12-1/18)
12:00 AM
3:00 AM
6:00 AM
9:00 AM
12:00 PM
3:00 PM
6:00 PM
9:00 PM
12:00 AM
1/11/15 1/12/15 1/13/15 1/14/15 1/15/15 1/16/15 1/17/15 1/18/15 1/19/15

14. Results (1/19-1/25)
12:00 AM
3:00 AM
6:00 AM
9:00 AM
12:00 PM
3:00 PM
6:00 PM
9:00 PM
12:00 AM
1/18/15 1/19/15 1/20/15 1/21/15 1/22/15 1/23/15 1/24/15 1/25/15 1/26/15

15. Results (1/26-1/31)
12:00 AM
3:00 AM
6:00 AM
9:00 AM
12:00 PM
3:00 PM
6:00 PM
9:00 PM
12:00 AM
1/25/15 1/26/15 1/27/15 1/28/15 1/29/15 1/30/15 1/31/15 2/1/15

16. Results Summary
• Vending machine
– 1,176 hours
– 312 tests
• Traditional testers
– 64 hours
– 58 tests

17. Results Comments
• Vending machine
– Available 24/7
– High volume
– No training
– Results unknown
• Traditional testers
– Limited hours
– Low volume
– Requires training
– Results

18. Conclusions
• Unique population in an
‘underground’ venue requires a
specialized intervention
• HIV testing and social acceptance
• Acute infections
• Other concerns

19. Special Thanks
• Lauren Natoli, BA (AHF)
• Adam Carl Cohen, MPH (AHF)
• Laura Anderson, MPH (UCLA)
• Emily Huang (UCLA)
• Jeffery Klausner MD, MPH (UCLA)
• The UCLA Global Health Program