Description

Test kits are the disposable medical devices used to conduct rapid HIV testing using oral fluid or blood samples. Other consumables may include lancets and the phlebotomy specimen tubes used for collecting blood samples for non-rapid testing at a laboratory.

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Guidance

It is advisable to use a routine system for ordering, storing, using and disposing of test kits as well as other materials that are regularly used up by the CBVCT (consumables), such as rubber gloves etc.

Template Download: Stock Control Form

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Adaptation

The types of test kits and their expiry dates, the supply mechanism you are using and the available storage facilities will influence your stock control system for consumables.

Options for reducing costs:

• Bulk orders through hospitals or other testing providers
• Corporate sponsorship agreements with manufacturers

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Quality Improvement

Question seven of the Euro HIV EDAT Self-evaluation Grids focuses specifically on quality assurance for the testing process. The utility and acceptability of the test kit used as well as price and stock control system can be part of regular quality improvement.

Questions on satisfaction with the test kit and the testing procedure it requires can be incorporated into client surveys. Their ease of use from the staff perspective can be a topic for staff meetings or more formal quality improvement activities.

You can use methods such as Rapid Assessment, Focus Group or Enquiries and Concerns Register in the PQD (Participatory Quality Development) toolkit to collect feedback from service users, and methods such as Guided Working Group to work with staff and volunteers.

To access the tool and guidance on using it, go to www.quality-action.eu.

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Action plan

This Action Plan helps you to work directly on the items identified as priorities (yellow and/or red fields in the Checklist). Please list actions that are as specific as possible. You can download your finished Action Plans for each section as an xlsx.-document and print it afterwards. The Action Plans form the basis for your further planning, implementation and evaluation.

The Action Plan shows a sequence of steps to be taken, or activities to be performed for a strategy to succeed. The Action Plan has four major elements: (1) what will be done (specific tasks), (2) by whom (responsibility), (3) by when (timeframe), and (4) how the implementation of the task will be monitored.

 

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Description

Infection control addresses the spread of infections within the healthcare setting. It includes hand hygiene/hand washing, cleaning, disinfection, sterilisation and waste disposal.

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Guidance

Performing invasive medical procedures, such as taking blood samples for testing, requires attention to the WHO standard precautions (http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/standardprecautions/en/) for infection control and hygiene. This is not a complex task given the disposable nature of test kits, but it still needs to be taken seriously, and all staff must adhere to infection control.

You can summarise the necessary tasks in simple procedures that are easy to follow, outlining hand washing and cleaning procedures, cleaning frequency, disinfectants and cleaning products.

Template Download: Infection control plan

Sharps and biological waste from medical procedures, such as obtaining blood samples for testing, must be disposed of according to local regulations. You can use a professional waste disposal companies that provides special containers, picks up sharps and biological waste and disposes of it according to the law.

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Adaptation

Standard precautions are essential, but there may also be specific local regulations regarding infection control and cleaning on premises where procedures such as HIV testing are performed.

CBVCT procedures need to reflect any relevant local regulations. This includes outreach and mobile testing units.

Options for reducing costs:

• Sharing waste disposal arrangements with partner organisations, e.g. hospitals or clinics
• Using tests that do not require specialised waste disposal procedures.

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Quality Improvement

The WHO aide-memoire on standard precautions (http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/standardprecautions/en/) can serve as a quality assurance checklist for infection control and waste disposal if you make it part of regular quality improvement activities at the CBVCT.

Question seven of the Euro HIV EDAT Self-evaluation Grids also focuses specifically on quality assurance for the testing process.

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Description

Condoms and lubricant are essential safer sex materials used by MSM. Safe injecting materials include sterile needles, syringes, disinfectant swabs, sterile water filters and other equipment used by people who inject drugs. Additional materials for safer drug use such as straws for snorting or pipes for smoking depend on the modes of drug administration used by your clients (e.g. during chemsex).

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Guidance

Distributing free condoms and lubricant is standard practice for all community-based HIV prevention interventions targeting MSM. Offering sterile injecting equipment for people who inject drugs is one of the core elements of harm reduction (complemented by access to opioid substitution therapy).

Offering free condoms and lubricant to MSM clients accessing CBVCTs is essential for supporting safer sex behaviour. Because CBVCTs rarely serve one single key population and because some MSM also inject drugs, e.g. in the context of ‘chemsex’ (using drugs specifically for sexual experiences), you should consider offering sterile injecting equipment at the CBVCT.

For a comprehensive discussion of prevention interventions targeting MSM, see also:
http://ecdc.europa.eu/

For comprehensive information on harm reduction for people who inject drugs, see also:
http://ecdc.europa.eu/

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Adaptation

Local conditions will have a large influence on the types of services CBVCTs will include in their operations. They include the key population(s) and their preferences, local regulations and access to condoms and other equipment. It is important to consider which services are essential and feasible, and which may be added at a later date.

Options for reducing costs:

• Combined ordering with other providers
• Sponsorship agreements.

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Quality Improvement

The Succeed and QIP tools include sections on defining the key population and prevention interventions. The PIQA tool focuses on harm reduction and can be used to ensure that harm reduction services for people who inject drugs reach minimum quality standards.

You can use the step-by-step instructions for methods such as Rapid Assessment, Focus Group or Enquiries and Concerns Register in the PQD (Participatory Quality Development) toolkit to collect feedback from service users as well as from staff and volunteers.

To access all these tools and guidance on using them, go to www.quality-action.eu.

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Description

Condoms and lubricant are essential safer sex materials used by MSM. Safe injecting materials include sterile needles, syringes, disinfectant swabs, sterile water filters and other equipment used by people who inject drugs. Additional materials for safer drug use such as straws for snorting or pipes for smoking depend on the modes of drug administration used by your clients (e.g. during chemsex).

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Guidance

Distributing free condoms and lubricant is standard practice for all community-based HIV prevention interventions targeting MSM. Offering sterile injecting equipment for people who inject drugs is one of the core elements of harm reduction (complemented by access to opioid substitution therapy).

Offering free condoms and lubricant to MSM clients accessing CBVCTs is essential for supporting safer sex behaviour. Because CBVCTs rarely serve one single key population and because some MSM also inject drugs, e.g. in the context of ‘chemsex’ (using drugs specifically for sexual experiences), you should consider offering sterile injecting equipment at the CBVCT.

For a comprehensive discussion of prevention interventions targeting MSM, see also:
http://ecdc.europa.eu/

For comprehensive information on harm reduction for people who inject drugs, see also:
http://ecdc.europa.eu/

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Adaptation

Local conditions will have a large influence on the types of services CBVCTs will include in their operations. They include the key population(s) and their preferences, local regulations and access to condoms and other equipment. It is important to consider which services are essential and feasible, and which may be added at a later date.

Options for reducing costs:

• Combined ordering with other providers
• Sponsorship agreements.

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Quality Improvement

The Succeed and QIP tools include sections on defining the key population and prevention interventions. The PIQA tool focuses on harm reduction and can be used to ensure that harm reduction services for people who inject drugs reach minimum quality standards.

You can use the step-by-step instructions for methods such as Rapid Assessment, Focus Group or Enquiries and Concerns Register in the PQD (Participatory Quality Development) toolkit to collect feedback from service users as well as from staff and volunteers.

To access all these tools and guidance on using them, go to www.quality-action.eu.

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Description

Information materials include flyers, brochures, booklets, postcards, magazines and other materials that clients can take. Online information resources are covered in the section on communication.

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Guidance

Coming to a CBVCT for HIV testing is often a good time for MSM to receive information updates on the topic of HIV, sexual health and wellbeing. Waiting times represent a good opportunity for offering information in a variety of formats.

Having printed information in formats that clients can take away discreetly may increase uptake, e.g. postcards, business cards with website addresses etc.

 

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Adaptation

Essential materials include information about the CBVCT itself, including contact information and opening times and information about related services (e.g. community organisations, counselling centres, doctors, hospitals etc.). Additional materials, e.g. on specific topics (STIs, drug use/chemsex, Safer Sex, PEP, PrEP, hepatitis, mental health etc.) can be added depending on the needs of the key population and availability in locally used languages.

Options for reducing costs:

• Distribute existing information materials produced by other organisations.
• Include detailed information on your website/social media profiles and print only business cards with the addresses.

See also the section on communication for further details.

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Quality Improvement

The reviewer-assessed QIP quality improvement tool contains a section on information and communication.

To find methods for involving the key population in selecting information topics and materials, e.g. for how to run focus groups, explore the toolkit that is part of the Participatory Quality Development (PQD) tool.

Both tools are available at www.quality-action.eu.

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