P114: Online and provider-based testing for sexually-transmitted and bloodborne infections: describing patterns of use among repeat testers in British Columbia, Canada.

Background: As the scale-up of online testing services for sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections (STBBI) continues to change the testing landscape, questions remain about how people use these services in relation to provider-based testing. We surveyed repeat users of GetCheckedOnline, Canada's only online STBBI testing service, about their concurrent use of provider-based testing services. Methods: We invited users of GetCheckedOnline who had consented to be contacted for research, were 16 years or older, and had tested at least twice through the service (once in the past 6 months) to complete an online survey between November 21-December 6, 2022. Results are presented descriptively. Results: Among 789 survey respondents (44% of those invited), 44% identified as men, 38% identified as straight/heterosexual, and 68% identified as White. Over half (57%) usually tested at least every 3-4 months and the majority (79%) usually sought STBBI testing through GetCheckedOnline. Of 384 participants who did not exclusively test through GetCheckedOnline, reasons for seeking providerbased testing over GetCheckedOnline included during health visits for other reasons (50%), needing to speak to providers about sexual health (35%), testing as part of HIV treatment or PrEP (27%), needing tests not offered through GetCheckedOnline (26%), experiencing symptoms (29%), or having had a partner with an STI (14%). Most (86%) agreed they test more often because of GetCheckedOnline, and 88% agreed that GetCheckedOnline allowed them to test sooner than through a provider. If GetCheckedOnline had not been available, most (89%) would have accessed provider-based testing; however, 11% (80/747) would not have sought further testing. Almost all would recommend GetCheckedOnline to others and would test again using GetCheckedOnline in the future (99% and 99%, respectively). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that most repeat users had shifted all or part of their current testing to GetCheckedOnline, which they perceived as facilitating more frequent and earlier testing. GetCheckedOnline is highly acceptable to its repeat users and, for some, is the only testing option they used or would consider using. Our findings position online STBBI testing as an important complement to provider-based services and suggest that online testing services may help alleviate demands on provider-based testing services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]