Nurx, a telemedicine platform, unveiled a new at-home laboratory testing kit for patients seeking PrEP, a medication that helps prevent HIV-negative people from becoming infected.
The kit enables HIV-negative people complete necessary testing before using PrEP, which is effective at preventing HIV. They first use the Nurx network to complete a health assessment with a provider to determine if they are a good candidate for PrEP. The patient then receives the kit, and they can use it to collect a blood, urine and swab sample and mail it back to Nurx's certified lab partner, Molecular Testing Labs, for processing.
"Our data shows there's a clear drop off in potential PrEP users at the stage when patients need to physically show up for lab tests," said Nurx's Clinical Development Lead Jessica Horwitz. "For too many people, taking time off work, driving long hours to a clinic and facing the shame of a diagnosis code, is a deal-breaker. We expect to see a significant increase in PrEP users now that we've removed these barriers and we're proud to play a role in combating escalating HIV rates."
Nurx's at-home PrEP lab test kits are available in 19 states and Washington, D.C.