Maine's largest nonprofit provider of HIV services has received new HIV self-test kits, recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
The Portland-based Frannie Peabody Center typically distributes about 2,000 self-test kits to Mainers annually. Executive Director Katie Rutherford said the new tests are about a third of the size which will save the nonprofit more money and help them reach more people.
"The reason that we continue to see the HIV epidemic increase in areas is because people are not aware of their status, not accessing testing services," Rutherford said. "And so the more people that we can reach with these self-test kits, the more people are aware."
Greater Bangor is currently experiencing an HIV outbreak, with 22 new cases detected since October of 2023. It's estimated that one out of seven people living with HIV is unaware of their status. Rutherford said a third of people ordering tests online from the Frannie Peabody Center report they are testing for HIV for the first time.
"Unfortunately, there's a lot of stigma still tied to HIV," Rutherford said. "We recognize that packaging can can make the difference, you know, as to whether somebody is comfortable taking that test kit away or not. So the smaller packaging is going to help a lot, I think, just with privacy and discretion."
The Frannie Peabody Center will distribute the new kits at Pride Month events across the state, including Portland, Sanford and Ogunquit events. Rutherford said they handed out 400 of the larger kits at last year’s Portland Pride event before running out.
"We could have done more had we been able to physically carry more boxes into the festival. So I think this year we're going to be prepared to do a bigger distribution, and we're really excited, you know, to be able to get more tests out to the community," she said.
In the United States, gay and bisexual men are disproportionately affected by HIV.
The Frannie Peabody Center estimates there are around 1,800 Mainers living with HIV. Rutherford said that number is likely higher, due to many who don't know they are positive and the recent Penobscot County outbreak.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends everyone over 13 get tested for HIV at least once. Rutherford recommends Mainers make testing part of their annual Sexually Transmitted Infection screening routine.
