WHO recommends social network-based HIV testing approaches for key populations as part of partner services package

Overview
Social network-based HIV testing is an approach for engaging sexual and drug injecting partners and social contacts of key population members with HIV and of those who are HIV-negative and at ongoing risk in voluntary HTS.
By addressing people’s confidentiality concerns and broadening the reach to social contacts, social network-based HIV testing approaches can improve the acceptability of partner services among key populations and so reach more people who may not otherwise test for HIV. WHO now recommends that social network-based HIV testing approaches can be offered for key populations.
Related policy briefs
- Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services for a changing epidemic
- WHO encourages countries to adapt HIV testing strategies in response to changing epidemic
- WHO recommends countries move away from the use of western blotting and line immunoassays in HIV testing strategies and algorithms
- Dual HIV/syphilis rapid diagnostic tests can be used as the first test in antenatal care
- WHO recommends HIV self-testing – evidence update and considerations for success
- What works for generating demand for HIV testing services
Web annexes
- Annex A - GRADE Table: Which demand creation approaches are effective for increasing uptake of HIV testing and onward linkage to prevention, treatment and care? (PDF, 654 KB)
- Annex B - GRADE Table: Should HIV self-testing be offered as an additional HIV testing approach? (PDF, 619 KB)
- Annex C - GRADE Table: Should social network-based approaches be offered as an additional HIV testing approach for key populations and their contacts? (PDF, 437 KB)
- Annex D - GRADE Table: Should western blotting and line immunoassays be used in national testing strategies and algorithms? (PDF, 665 KB)
- Annex E - Abstract: Performance of HIV testing strategies: considerations for global guideline development (PDF, 299 KB)
- Annex F - Abstract: Modelling the cost-effectiveness of maternal HIV retesting in high- and low-HIV burden settings (PDF, 388 KB)
- Annex G - Abstract: Modelling the cost-effectiveness of using HIV/syphilis dual tests in antenatal care in high and low HIV burden settings (PDF, 240 KB)
- Annex H - Considerations for monitoring HIV testing services programmes (PDF, 253 KB)
- Annex I - In vitro diagnostics for HIV diagnosis (PDF, 313 KB)
- Annex J- Ensuring the quality of HIV testing services (PDF, 276 KB)
- Annex K - Global examples of HIV testing services (PDF, 1.7 MB)
- Annex L - Symptom and risk-based screening to optimize HIV testing services: a scoping review (PDF, 727 KB)