NCT03803683

Brief Summary

The mLab App combines HIV prevention information with push notifications/reminders to complete HIV testing and an automated image processing feature to provide real-time feedback on home-based HIV test results. Theoretically-guided by the Health Information Technology Usability Evaluation Model (Health-ITUEM), the proposed project will refine and test a next-generation diagnostic intervention delivered on a mobile platform to improve HIV testing and linkage-to-care outcomes among youth living with and at-risk for HIV. Given the pervasiveness, low cost, and convenience of mobile technology, the investigators hope that the App can help achieve the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy in the US by increasing the number of persons living with HIV who know their serostatus, decreasing HIV-related disparities, and ultimately reducing the risk of HIV transmission and acquisition.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
525

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable hiv-infections

Timeline
Completed

Started Jan 2020

Typical duration for not_applicable hiv-infections

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 2, 2018

Completed
4 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 14, 2019

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 21, 2020

Completed
3.7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

October 2, 2023

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 2, 2023

Completed
1.2 years until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

November 26, 2024

Completed
Last Updated

November 26, 2024

Status Verified

November 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

3.7 years

First QC Date

September 2, 2018

Results QC Date

October 2, 2024

Last Update Submit

November 3, 2024

Conditions

Keywords

mLabHIV prevention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Total Number of Youth Tested for HIV

    Total number of youth tested for HIV at 6 months

    6 months

  • Total Number of Youth Tested for HIV

    Total number of youth tested for HIV at 12 months

    12 months

Secondary Outcomes (8)

  • Total Number of HIV Negative/ Positive Results

    6 months

  • Total Number of HIV Negative/ Positive Results

    12 months

  • Total Number of Youth Who Link to HIV Care Services

    6 months

  • Total Number of Youth Who Link to HIV Care Services

    12 months

  • Number of Sexual Partners in the Past 3 Months

    6 months

  • +3 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (3)

mLab App Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Youth randomized to the intervention arm (arm 1) will be provided with the mLab App, 2 OraQuick tests (including the package insert), and a box of condoms to take home at baseline. They will receive 2 more OraQuick tests at their 6 month visit. At their baseline appointment, youth will also be sent an email or text with links to mobile-optimized online prevention information, including PrEP and HIV testing information that is found on the CDC website. They will also receive a study information card listing the Columbia University School of Nursing / Lurie Children's study teams' contact information.

Device: mLab AppBehavioral: HIV Prevention InformationDevice: HIV Home Tests

Standard of Care HIV Information Control Arm

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Youth randomized to the Standard of Care HIV information control arm (arm 2) will receive standard-of-care HIV/STI testing-related risk reduction counseling, a box of condoms, PrEP assessment, and referral information for clinics that provide PrEP during their first visit. Youth randomized to the standard of care will be sent an email with links to mobile-optimized online prevention information, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV testing information that is found on the CDC website.They will also receive a study information card listing the Columbia University School of Nursing / Lurie Children's study teams' contact information.

Behavioral: HIV Prevention Information

HIV Home Tests

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Youth randomized to the HIV home testing arm (arm 3) will be provided with the 2 OraQuick tests (including the package insert), and a box of condoms to take home at baseline. They will receive 2 more OraQuick tests at the 6 month visit. At their baseline appointment, youth will also be sent an email or text with links to mobile-optimized online prevention information, including PrEP and HIV testing information that is found on the CDC website. They will also receive a study information card listing the Columbia University School of Nursing / Lurie Children's study teams' contact information.

Behavioral: HIV Prevention InformationDevice: HIV Home Tests

Interventions

mLab AppDEVICE

The mLab App is a web application that uses an image processing algorithm to interpret the results of the OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test.

mLab App Intervention

Youth randomized to the standard of care will be sent an email with links to mobile-optimized online prevention information, including PrEP and HIV testing information that is found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

HIV Home TestsStandard of Care HIV Information Control ArmmLab App Intervention

Youth randomized into this arm will receive OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test.

HIV Home TestsmLab App Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 29 Years
Sexmale
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Birth sex male of any current gender identification;
  • Understand and read English
  • Substantial risk for acquiring HIV infection per CDC guidance (e.g.,YMSM or YTGW and recent anal sex with men)
  • Smartphone ownership
  • Self-report being HIV-negative or unknown status
  • Understand the limitations of the OraQuick test and the mLab App
  • Not having been tested for HIV in the past 6 months (e.g., therefore being somewhat outside of the current CDC testing recommendations for high-risk populations)
  • Not currently taking PrEP
  • Receive a non-reactive result on the rapid HIV test at the Baseline visit

You may not qualify if:

  • Persons who have a known diagnosis of HIV
  • Persons for whom the investigators determine that participation may be detrimental to the participant or to the study (e.g., severe cognitive deficit).

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Lurie Children's Hospital

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

Location

Columbia University School of Nursing

New York, New York, 10032, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Schnall R, Scherr TF, Kuhns LM, Janulis P, Jia H, Wood OR, Almodovar M, Garofalo R. Efficacy of the mLab App: a randomized clinical trial for increasing HIV testing uptake using mobile technology. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2025 Feb 1;32(2):275-284. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocae261.

  • Wood OR, Garofalo R, Kuhns LM, Scherr TF, Zetina APM, Rodriguez RG, Nash N, Cervantes M, Schnall R. A randomized controlled trial of an mHealth intervention for increasing access to HIV testing and care among young cisgender men and transgender women: the mLab App study protocol. BMC Public Health. 2021 Oct 29;21(1):1959. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-12015-w.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

HIV Infections

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Blood-Borne InfectionsCommunicable DiseasesInfectionsSexually Transmitted Diseases, ViralSexually Transmitted DiseasesLentivirus InfectionsRetroviridae InfectionsRNA Virus InfectionsVirus DiseasesGenital DiseasesUrogenital DiseasesImmunologic Deficiency SyndromesImmune System Diseases

Results Point of Contact

Title
Rebecca Schnall, PhD, MPH, RN-BC, FAAN, FACMI
Organization
Columbia University

Study Officials

  • Rebecca Schnall, PhD, RN

    Columbia University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Mary Dickey Lindsay Associate Professor of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 2, 2018

First Posted

January 14, 2019

Study Start

January 21, 2020

Primary Completion

October 2, 2023

Study Completion

October 2, 2023

Last Updated

November 26, 2024

Results First Posted

November 26, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-11

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations