The mobile HCT service used in this study has been described elsewhere [15]. HIV testing in combination with screening for other chronic conditions was provided free of charge. Individuals who tested HIV positive were staged according to the World Health Organization (WHO) staging manual and underwent a CD4 cell count test. This study used data collected as part of a population-based seroprevalence survey conducted between September and December

2010 [16]. A house-to-house enumeration of the community in August 2010 provided a database of 12 520 residents aged 15 years or older of whom 1300 residents were randomly selected for inclusion in the study (10% of the community). Field workers invited these selected individuals to attend the mobile HIV testing service. Participant characteristics, HIV prevalence and CD4 cell counts in this group were compared with those of individuals who APO866 ic50 had voluntarily attended the mobile HCT service since May 2009 up to the time of the survey. Informed consent was obtained from all individuals participating in the survey and those participating in the linkage to care component of the study. Data collection and analysis were approved by the University of Cape Town Research Ethics Committee. The HIV seroprevalence survey among recruited participants was conducted over a period of 3 months

from September to November 2010. Community awareness was raised before and during the survey through pamphlets and meetings with the community advisory board and church women’s groups. Field workers subsequently visited individuals Tolmetin Etoposide research buy selected for the survey to invite them to participate and provide information. Survey participants were invited

to test at the mobile HCT service and could choose (i) to test and receive their HIV result together with screening for chronic diseases, (ii) to provide blood and not receive their HIV result, but undergo screening for chronic disease or (iii) to only provide blood and not receive their HIV result. All survey participants received 70 South African Rand vouchers (approximately US$9.6) regardless of which testing option they chose. The vouchers were printed using a biometric system that unlocked the voucher on the basis of the participant’s fingerprint (Fig. 1). This was done for security purposes and to ensure that participants did not retest and subsequently receive vouchers more than once. The vouchers were redeemable for food at a national supermarket chain. Cigarettes and alcohol could not be purchased with the vouchers. The mobile HIV testing service operated 1–2 days per month in this community prior to the seroprevalence survey. It parked at a township shopping centre or a parking lot in front of the primary school. The service was not formally advertised, but the vehicles were brightly coloured and educators and counsellors invited passers-by to attend the service. Clients attended the free service voluntarily without reimbursement in cash or kind.