What is it about…
Suck it and See is a new study that is trying to estimate the amount of HIV among gay and homosexually active men, and explore the reasons that some people have HIV and some people have HIV but do not realise they are infected.
Why is it important?
This study is important because it is the first in Australia to collect saliva samples in community settings to estimate the number of people with HIV in the gay community.
HIV diagnoses in Victoria have more than doubled between 1999 and 2006. However, because HIV testing patterns vary between people we are unsure exactly how many people in total are HIV positive (HIV prevalence) in Victoria. Estimation of HIV prevalence is an important tool to monitor the impact of interventions, inform public health programs and is an important requirement for HIV modelling. Data from this study will be used to form local and nation HIV/AIDS health promotion and education strategies.
How are we going to do this?
Like the Melbourne Gay Community Periodic Survey, Suck it and See are aiming to recruit 1000 gay and homosexually active men through clinics, bars, clubs, sex clubs and saunas throughout Melbourne and will be using the same friendly recruiters. Those taking part in the study will be completing a short survey while holding a stick beside their gum to provide us with a saliva sample. All up, this will only take about five minutes.
Why a saliva sample?
A saliva test is a very simple but very reliable HIV test that can be used for research. The most important thing to understand is that we cannot give people their result as the test is not licensed in Australia for diagnosing an individual’s HIV status.
This means that although the test is good for research it is not good for diagnosing an individual person’s HIV status. Therefore, you will not be given your HIV test results.
If you want to find out where to get an HIV test in your area, you can call the HIV Connect line at 1800 038 125 or go to www.connectline.com.au/ for further testing information.
Who can participate?
All gay men at participating venues around Melbourne are being asked to respond.
This includes all men that have had sex with another man; whether your HIV-positive, HIV-negative or even if your aren’t sure of your status.
Study Results...
Although we cannot give you back the result of your saliva test we can give you the overall study results. This will initially include the number of people in the study who tested HIV positive and the number of people who tested HIV positive but didn’t know they were HIV positive based on what they answered in the study survey.
Study outcomes will also be publicly available through community organisations (eg, Victorian AIDS Council/GMHC, PLWHA) and publications, the Burnet Institute website and in academic publications and presentations.
Privacy, Confidentiality and Consent…
Your answers and test results will be 100% confidential and anonymous.
Of course participation is completely voluntary.
Surveys and oral fluid specimens will be linked with an identifying number, but there is no link between them and you. That is – it will not be possible to link you with the results of your test or your survey responses.
Do I have to participate?
We need you help to fight HIV in Victoria but participation is 100% voluntary.
When and where is it happening?
We will be in clinics, bars, sex clubs and saunas in June.
This study is being conducted by the Burnet Institute in collaboration with the Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre (VAC/GMHC) and the University of New South Wales.
For information about testing, call the HIV Connect line at 1800 038 125 or go to www.connectline.com.au/
If you have any questions or concerns about the study- please contact us on
alisa[AT]burnet.edu.au or call us on 8506 2326
Timeline: March 2008 – December 2008
Project Staff: Mark Stoové, Alisa Pedrana, Henry von Doussa, Margaret Hellard
Contact: alisa[AT]burnet.edu.au or 8506 2326