{
  "abstract": "Background LILA (Italian League for Fighting AIDS) has been operating in Italy since 1987, providing support for PLWHIV and focusing on prevention. LILA, since 2010, has started rapid HIV testing services; since 2012, has participated in the European Testing Week, since 2017 testing services are open across 7 locations. Each year LILA welcomes hundreds of people providing pre-test STI counseling, rapid testing for HIV, HCV, and Syphilis. In cases of reactivity, individuals are accompanied to local clinics for confirmatory laboratory testing at NHS facilities in partnership with LILA; in case of confirmed diagnosis, counseling is provided. These data refer to the period from October 2024 to September 2025 across the sites in Bari, Cagliari, Como, Florence, Milan, Turin, and Trento.Material and Methods During the counseling, exposure to STIs is assessed through sexual behavior, drug use and prevention habits (vaccinations, testing, condom use, and PrEP). Data are collected with Cobatest form, ensuring comparability within the network.Results LILA testing services recorded an increase of visits, tests performed and reactive results compared to the same period in the previous year. Specifically, 2,477 people were reached (1,453 men, 978 women, 46 non-binary); the mean age was 29.2 years, 85.6% Italians. The largest age group was 20–29 years (46.9%), then 30–39 (30.3%) and 40–49 (11.8%). Notably, 43.2% had never tested before and 16.3% had already been in LILA. About behaviors: 50.9% did not use a condom during their last sexual encounter, 3.6% practiced Chemsex and only 2.9% reported using PrEP. Overall, perceived exposure to HIV risk (84.1%) was the primary motivation for testing (had sex without condom: oral 64.5%, vaginal 54.4%, anal 27%). During the year, 5,389 tests were performed (HIV 2,419, Syphilis 1,666, HCV 1,304). Reactive results were obtained for 39 tests (HIV 14, Syphilis 10, HCV 15). For HIV: 9 cases were confirmed and linked to care. For Syphilis, 5 cases were confirmed; for HCV, 3 active infections were confirmed.Conclusions Testing services at LILA report growing numbers year after year, with visits doubling compared to the COVID-19 period. Since 2017, a total of 17,407 tests for HIV, 6,917 for Syphilis, and 5,922 for HCV have been offered. The data indicate that the CBVCT approach offered by LILA effectively overcomes barriers to HIV test: over 40% chose a LILA-site for their first-ever HIV test. Moreover, 16.3% of contacts used the service more than once and 22.8% reached LILA through word-of-mouth. The CBVCT also provides an opportunity to discuss prevention and harm reduction strategies, like PrEP: while 42.2% already knew it, 9.4% expressed interest in this prevention strategy and only 2.9% used it. Finally, vaccination data are concerning users reported to be vaccinated: HBV 71.8%, HPV 31%, HAV 28.4%. Better coordination with the NHS could facilitate an increase in vaccination coverage, as it is a key tool for prevention.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "LILA Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro l’AIDS, Como, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "G Dessi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "LILA Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro l’AIDS, Como, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "G Giupponi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "LILA Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro l’AIDS, Como, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "P Perone"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P59 Breaking barriers to HIV testing: the role of LILA in reaching the untested people in Italy",
  "uid": "486e30e8-5990-5ce7-8039-9c1892c4e353"
}