Trial results from the Ending the HIV Epidemic Through Point-of-Care Technologies (EHPOC) study were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-04-22. The study found that point-of-care (POC) HIV viral load testing reduced the median time to linkage to either pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or antiretroviral therapy (ART) to 49 days, compared to 74 days with standard-of-care (SOC) HIV testing.
Background
Ending the HIV epidemic in the U.S. relies heavily on effective HIV diagnosis and timely linkage to care. Standard-of-care (SOC) diagnostic techniques often involve extended turn-around-times (TATs) due to laboratory procedures. These delays can lead to a loss of patients to follow-up, particularly those at high risk for HIV, potentially allowing continued transmission. Rapid, Point-of-Care (POC) HIV viral load (VL) testing aims to address this challenge by significantly reducing TATs, thereby facilitating quicker linkage to care and treatment.
Trial design
This completed study, titled "Ending the HIV Epidemic Through Point-of-Care Technologies (EHPOC)" (NCT04793750), enrolled 224 participants. The trial investigated the performance of existing and new technologies for HIV diagnosis, specifically comparing POC HIV VL testing against SOC HIV testing. The study focused on participants with HIV Infections and Syphilis.
Key results
The key measurements reported from the trial include:
- Participants Linked Either to Care (PrEP or ART): In the POC HIV VL Testing group, 51 participants were linked to care. In the SOC HIV Testing group, 50 participants were linked to care.
- HIV: Time to Linkage to Either PrEP or ART: The median time to linkage for the POC HIV VL Testing group was 49 days (Inter-Quartile Range). For the SOC HIV Testing group, the median time to linkage was 74 days (Inter-Quartile Range).
- Participants Reporting Condom-less Sex: In the POC HIV VL Testing group, 63 participants reported condom-less sex, and separately, another measurement showed 28 participants. In the SOC HIV Testing group, 70 participants reported condom-less sex, and separately, another measurement showed 34 participants.
What this means
The significant reduction in the median time to linkage to care observed with POC HIV viral load testing (49 days vs. 74 days for SOC) indicates a substantial improvement in the efficiency of connecting individuals with necessary HIV prevention or treatment. While both POC and SOC testing resulted in a similar number of participants being linked to care, the faster linkage offered by POC technologies is critical for reducing the window of potential HIV transmission and improving patient outcomes. The data on participants reporting condom-less sex provides additional context regarding risk behaviors, though further details on the measurement points would be needed for a comprehensive interpretation.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for study NCT04793750, titled "Ending the HIV Epidemic Through Point-of-Care Technologies (EHPOC)," were posted on 2026-04-22 on clinicaltrials.gov.