Comparative evaluation of HIV testing interventions for men who have sex with men in the Netherlands
Abstract
Background: New HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Netherlands have declined considerably, but the recent plateau suggests ongoing transmission. In 2024, 29% of new diagnoses among MSM were late stage, showing that the time between infection and diagnosis can still be reduced. In low-incidence settings, infections introduced through immigration are increasingly important in sustaining transmission.
Methods: We used an agent-based model of HIV transmission among MSM in the Netherlands, incorporating infections acquired domestically and abroad. For 2026 – 2040, we simulated testing interventions focused on immigrants at entry, resident MSM subgroups, and combinations of these.
Results: Entry testing of immigrating MSM averts up to 94 (95-th % quantile interval, 95% QI -128 – 328) infections over 15 years if at least 50% take the test. Testing every 7 months in the general MSM population achieves the largest reduction, up to 508 (95% QI 292 – 900) infections averted. The same rate in MSM with more than 5 recent partners results in 340 (95% QI 132–592) infections averted. Combining entry testing with 7-monthly testing in the general resident MSM population results in 534 infections averted (95% QI 308–884). Considering both impact and additional tests per infection averted, combination strategies generally offer the most favourable trade-offs.
Conclusions: Increased testing in resident MSM, particularly when combined with entry testing of immigrating MSM, can substantially reduce HIV infections while offering an attractive testing effort. The higher impact of targeting the general MSM population compared with targeting those with high recent partner numbers suggests that the criteria used to identify individuals with undiagnosed HIV need to expand.
Related
- Application of a Quantitative POCT-FIT Based on Near-Infrared Fluorescence Immunochromatography in Population-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Comparative Evaluation with a Centralized Testing System
- A comparative evaluation of the efficacy and safety of clonidine and atomoxetine combined with behavioural interventions in children with autism spectrum disorder and comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- Serologic Testing for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 Cross-Reactive Immune Responses, the Netherlands
- Decision-making pathways for adopting, implementing, and scaling gamified physical activity interventions in municipal policy and practice in the Netherlands
- Structured postmortem genetic counselling and testing in sudden unexplained death among young adults in the Netherlands: results and implications regarding hereditary risk.
BibTeX
@article{teslya2026comparative,
title = {{Comparative evaluation of HIV testing interventions for men who have sex with men in the Netherlands}},
author = {Alexandra Teslya and Jacob Aiden Roberts and Janneke Cornelia Maria Heijne and Maarten Franciscus Schim van der Loeff and Ard van Sighem and Axel Jeremias Schmidt and Kai J. Jonas and Mirjam E. Kretzschmar and Ganna Rozhnova},
journal = {Communications Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s43856-026-01939-2},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-026-01939-2},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Comparative evaluation of HIV testing interventions for men who have sex with men in the Netherlands
AU - Alexandra Teslya
AU - Jacob Aiden Roberts
AU - Janneke Cornelia Maria Heijne
AU - Maarten Franciscus Schim van der Loeff
AU - Ard van Sighem
AU - Axel Jeremias Schmidt
AU - Kai J. Jonas
AU - Mirjam E. Kretzschmar
AU - Ganna Rozhnova
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Communications Medicine
DO - 10.1038/s43856-026-01939-2
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-026-01939-2
AB - Background: New HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Netherlands have declined considerably, but the recent plateau suggests ongoing transmission. In 2024, 29% of new diagnoses among MSM were late stage, showing that the time between infection and diagnosis can still be reduced. In low-incidence settings, infections introduced through immigration are increasingly important in sustaining transmission. Methods: We used an agent-based model of HIV transmission among MSM in the Netherlands, incorporating infections acquired domestically and abroad. For 2026 – 2040, we simulated testing interventions focused on immigrants at entry, resident MSM subgroups, and combinations of these. Results: Entry testing of immigrating MSM averts up to 94 (95-th % quantile interval, 95% QI -128 – 328) infections over 15 years if at least 50% take the test. Testing every 7 months in the general MSM population achieves the largest reduction, up to 508 (95% QI 292 – 900) infections averted. The same rate in MSM with more than 5 recent partners results in 340 (95% QI 132–592) infections averted. Combining entry testing with 7-monthly testing in the general resident MSM population results in 534 infections averted (95% QI 308–884). Considering both impact and additional tests per infection averted, combination strategies generally offer the most favourable trade-offs. Conclusions: Increased testing in resident MSM, particularly when combined with entry testing of immigrating MSM, can substantially reduce HIV infections while offering an attractive testing effort. The higher impact of targeting the general MSM population compared with targeting those with high recent partner numbers suggests that the criteria used to identify individuals with undiagnosed HIV need to expand.
SN - 2730-664X
ER -