Confidential SMS referrals to encourage HIV testing for high-risk people
Official title: Confidential social network referrals for HIV testing (CONSORT)
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11393066 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new program uses anonymous text message referrals to help people at higher risk for HIV get tested.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $235,376 |
| NIH project number | 5R33TW011667-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393066 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals in high-risk groups in northern Tanzania who are connected to HIV care or testing networks and are reachable by mobile phone.
✕Less likely to help
People without access to mobile phones or those not connected to testing networks may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a mobile, confidential SMS system that quietly invites individuals in high-risk networks to get HIV testing. Researchers will first gather input from counselors, clients, and social contacts to shape a respectful and acceptable referral approach. They will adapt an automated texting system to send confidential test invitations and pilot it in northern Tanzania to see if it increases testing uptake and is cost-effective. The study combines qualitative work, system development, and real-world testing to understand how to reach people who may not have tested recently.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could raise HIV testing rates in populations with high risk and limited access, helping more people learn their status sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Previous SMS-based interventions have shown potential to influence health behaviors, but this exact approach is being tested for HIV testing referrals in this setting.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ostermann, Jan — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Ostermann, Jan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.