#AI reads Urine# Urine-based HIV-1 self-testing in China
Published 28 February, 2026
Focusing on the urine-based HIV self-testing method in China, this study, conducted between 2017 and 2018 with 1,495 participants recruited from three regions, aimed to complement the limitations of existing blood and oral fluid tests (the former requiring finger pricking and the latter being prone to sampling errors). The results showed that for HIV-infected individuals not receiving antiretroviral therapy, the test achieved a sensitivity of 99.44% and a specificity of 100%, with a nearly perfect consistency with professional testing. Over 80% of users could operate it correctly, with high satisfaction rates, and the results of at-home testing were fully consistent with those conducted in hospitals. However, there were drawbacks: some users struggled with specific operations and result interpretation, and the accuracy declined for infected individuals undergoing antiretroviral therapy. Overall, this convenient, privacy-protective, accurate, and well-accepted testing method can help more people (such as those afraid of needle pricking or unable to easily access hospitals) get tested, contributing to China's achievement of the first "95%" target in the UNAIDS "95-95-95" HIV prevention and control goals. Future improvements should include simplifying instructions and adding video guidance to address common user confusions.
Sci Rep. 2025 Dec 24;15(1):44610. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-28286-x.
Youhe Gao
Statement: During the preparation of this work the author(s) used Doubao / AI reading for summarizing the content. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the published article.
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