Text messages to help teens get HIV tested
Effectiveness and implementation of text messaging to improve HIV testing in adolescents
Tailored text messages will encourage teens aged 13–18 to get tested for HIV and connect them to follow-up care if needed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11266111 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would receive regular, age‑appropriate text messages with up‑to‑date HIV information, reminders, motivation, and links to local testing resources. The program is an updated version of a prior texting intervention (G2G) and will refresh content and technology to match teens' needs. Some participants will get the active, prevention‑focused messages while others may get comparison messages, and the team will verify testing using things like photos of test results. The project tests whether this text approach increases confirmed HIV testing and improves linkage to care for teens who test positive.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents about 13–18 years old who are sexually active or at risk for HIV and who have a phone that receives text messages.
Not a fit: People outside the target age range, those who already test regularly, or youth without access to a text‑capable phone are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could raise HIV testing rates among adolescents and help more young people get timely care and prevention services.
How similar studies have performed: A 2014 pilot of the G2G text program showed promising results with participants more than three times as likely to report testing, but a larger updated trial is needed to confirm those findings.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Macapagal, Kathryn Rose — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Macapagal, Kathryn Rose
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 below.