HIV Self-testing and the Missing Linkage
PLoS MedicinePublished 4 October 2011Open access
Rochelle P. Walensky, Ingrid V. Bassett
Citations46
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score4.28
SNIP3.21
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TL;DR
New research that assessed the feasibility of home-based oral HIV self- testing in Malawi is discussed, and it is suggested that linkage to care must be demonstrated before the success of oral self-testing can be determined.
Abstract
Rochelle Walensky and Ingrid Bassett discuss new research in PLoS Medicine that assessed the feasibility of home-based oral HIV self-testing in Malawi, and suggest that linkage to care must be demonstrated before the success of oral self-testing can be determined.
Keywords
Immunology and MicrobiologyMedicine
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