The World Health Organization (WHO) is gathering information to support optimization of HIV self-testing within HIV testing services and to gain a better understanding of the operationalization of facility-based HIV self-testing (HIVST).
Scope of the call
WHO is seeking submissions of case examples, good practice documentation, and programme descriptions on the use of HIVST in various settings, including adaptations made in response to the current reduced funding environment. We are looking for case examples and programme descriptions on the use of facility-based HIVST in the following 5 specific categories (up to 1 page per category submission):
- Category 1: description of the implementation or operationalisation of facility-based HIVST;
- Category 2: replacement of HIV risk screening tools with HIVST;
- Category 3: substitution of the first test in the HIV testing algorithm (A1) with HIV self-tests during stockouts of A1;
- Category 4: experience with use of HIVST to mitigate staff shortages; and
- Category 5: best practices with HIVST as self-care.
Eligibility
This call is open to national and subnational actors, including HIV programmes, public health authorities, technical agencies, academic institutions, implementing partners, and civil society organizations.
How to submit
Please submit your case study example by email to HTHPDT@who.int using the subject line “Case study examples and experiences of HIV self-testing within facilities”.
Deadline
16 April 2026 at 23:59 Central European Time.
Background
What is HIVST?
HIVST is for individuals who want to test and learn their HIV status on their own. It is defined as the process in which an individual collects their own specimen (oral fluid, blood or urine), performs the HIV test, and interprets the result privately.
A reactive (positive) HIVST result is not equivalent to an HIV-positive diagnosis. All reactive HIVST results require further testing by a trained provider, starting with the first test in the national testing algorithm.
Non-reactive HIVST results should be considered negative, with no need for immediate further testing.
Self-care and HIV self-testing
Self-care is the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker.
HIVST aligns with self-care principles by providing a safe, accurate, and effective option for initial HIV testing that allows individuals to control their testing experience (when, where, how), while enhancing their privacy and autonomy. Since WHO’s initial recommendation in 2016, this additional testing option is becoming a standard of care.
The role of HIV self-testing in HIV testing services
- in high HIV burden settings, WHO recommends replacing HIV risk screening tools with HIVST, because risk screening tools can miss undiagnosed people living with HIV;
- self-testing and self-care are becoming the standard of care across many different disease areas (for example: Covid-19, HIV, Hepatitis and syphilis);
- HIVST can be used as a test for triage in community settings, which usually happens when a trained provider performs a single RDT and then facilitates linkage to appropriate further testing and services depending on the test result;
- facility-based HIVST has the potential to expand testing coverage in facilities; and
- this strategy can be used to expand testing coverage in both community settings and in facilities.
WHO recommends that HIVST may be offered as an additional HIV testing option in health facilities
Facility-based HIVST can be used in various flexible ways, as needed, which may include:
- substituting the first test in the testing algorithm (known as A1) whenever the facility experiences a stockout of A1s, until the stock is replenished;
- workload reduction: HIVST reduces healthcare worker time spent on provider-administered testing or risk-based screening by up to 82%; and
- facility-based HIVST eases facility congestion, allowing staff to focus on higher-need medical cases.