News

We’re happy to share that Dr.Laura Fernàndez-López represented the COBATEST Network at the final #BOOSTproject consortium meeting held in Athens.

After three years of collaboration, it’s inspiring to witness the strong commitment of European partners towards harm reduction, public health, and social justice.

As we wrapped up the final day of the meeting, one message resonated stronger than ever: Harm reduction works — and so does collaboration.

Surrounded by partners who have worked side by side over the past three years, this final gathering was all about looking ahead — how we can sustain our work, our partnerships, and our shared commitment to equity, inclusion, and dignity in challenging times.

From open reflections on how to survive and thrive in today’s financial and political climate, to discussions on continuing cooperation and communication beyond 2025, the spirit in the room was one of realism, solidarity, and care.

We closed the meeting with gratitude — and with a renewed sense of purpose, reminding us that BOOST was more than just an EU project. It was a call to action and change in our communities.

Over the next few months, COBATEST will continue contributing to the final reporting process, ensuring that all project commitments are fulfilled.

Follow our updates and final outputs here: BOOST Project website

We are proud to share that Laura Fernàndez-López and Megi Gogishvili represented COBATEST at the 20th European AIDS Conference (EACS 2025) in Paris.

Laura Fernàndez-López presented the oral communication “Strengthening Community-Based Integrated HIV/STI/VH Prevention, Testing, and Linkage-to-Care: First-Year Outcomes of the CORE Project” and the e-poster “Estimating HIV incidence and associated risk factors using longitudinal community-based testing data across the WHO European Region: Insights from the COBATEST Network.”

Megi Gogishvili, PhD, contributed with the moderated e-poster “Targeting the Gaps: Testing Trends and Intersectional Analysis of HIV Testing Among Women Across Key Populations (2017–2023) in the COBATEST Network,” presented by Laura Fernàndez-López.

Congratulations to both for representing COBATEST and contributing valuable evidence to strengthen HIV prevention and community-based research across Europe.

IAS 2025, the 13^th IAS conference on HIV Science took place from July 13^th to 17^th, 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. Two abstracts were presented by COBATEST network at the conference. 

Dr. Laura Fernández López presented a poster on estimating HIV incidence using a longitudinal assessment of routine community-based testing data across the WHO European Region based on COBATEST Network from 2014 to 2023.

Over the entire period, 38657 participants were included in the analysis, contributing 66605.73 person-years, and 447 participants seroconverted, resulting in an overall incidence of 0.67 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 0.61-0.74), ranging from 0.44 in year 2014 to 0.92 in year 2016. The estimated incidences across KP groups were as follows: 1.02 (95% CI: 0.92-1.13) for men who have sex with men (MSM), 0.27 (95% CI: 0.14-0.48) for people who inject drugs (PWID), 1.21 (95% CI: 0.98-1.45) for sex workers (SW), and 1.42 (95% CI: 1.21-1.64) for non-European migrants.

This study demonstrates the feasibility of using routine community-based testing data to estimate HIV incidence among key populations (KPs). The findings reveal significant variability in incidence rates, with non-European migrants, MSM, and SW facing the highest burden.

Please find the poster here.

The above-mentioned study was also presented at the national level on XLIII Spanish Epidemiology Society (SEE) Conference, held in La Palma, Spain.

The full presentation can be found here.

The second COBATEST abstract at the IAS Conference was presented by Dr. Megi Gogishvili in the form of an e-poster, showcasing trends in HCV testing and data reporting across EECA, based on data collected by COBATEST Network members from 2017 to 2023.

Twenty-six centers from 17 EECA countries reported 73,290 HCV tests done. Except for 2017, when only 3 centers reported data, between 7 and 11 centers reported each subsequent year. However, only 7 centers consistently reported annually. Testing dropped by 44.5% in 2020 but increased by 34.8% in 2021. Excluding 2017, the lowest number of tests was 7,032 in 2020, and the highest was 17,646 in 2022. In 2023, tests declined by 9.7% to 15,930. The proportion of reactive tests rose from 8.6% in 2017 to 29.8% in 2023, peaking at 46.2% in 2022. The total proportion of reactive test results from 2017 to 2023 was 26%.

This study highlighted trends in HCV testing across COBATEST members from EECA. While testing numbers fluctuated, with a significant decline in 2020 and recovery in 2021, the data emphasized the need for consistent HCV testing. Despite a decrease in reported tests in 2023, the proportion of reactive tests increased, suggesting more individuals at risk are being identified. However, only a few members consistently report data, highlighting the need for stronger support in data collection. Strengthening data reporting is essential for targeted interventions and improving HCV prevention and treatment.

Please find the poster here.

The AidsImpact conference took place from June 26th to 28th, 2025 in CasaBlanca, Morrocco. Two abstracts were presented by COBATEST network at the conference. 

Dr. Laura Fernández López presented an abstract on Increase of integrated testing for HIV, HCV and syphilis in community-based testing services based on the COBATEST network data from 2014 to 2023. The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution of integrated testing for more than one infection in the community-based voluntary counselling and testing (CBVCT) services members of the COBATEST Network from 2014 to 2023.

The number of testing sessions where more than one test was conducted increased during the study period, from 48.38% of all testing sessions in 2014 to 82.19% in 2023 (an increase of 69.88%).

Considering all testing sessions over the entire period, 44.0% involved both HIV and syphilis tests, 35.9% involved only HIV tests, 13.6% involved the 3 tests, 5.4% involved both HIV and HCV tests, and only 1.3% and 0.3% of testing sessions exclusively performed HCV tests and syphilis tests, respectively. The number of testing sessions where all 3 tests were conducted increased by 617.2% in 2023 compared to 2014, rising from 1.7% of all testing sessions to 56.1%. The prevalence of reactive tests for the three infections at the same testing session over the entire period was 0.18% of all testing sessions where the 3 tests were performed. The prevalence for HIV and syphilis reactive tests was 1.5%, 0.0% for HIV and HCV, and 0.5% for Syphilis and HCV.

Please find full presentation here.

Dr. Megi Gogishvili presented an abstract on HIV testing trends and positive diagnosis among immigrants in Europe and Central Asia vs. native-born based on COBATEST Network data from 2017 to 2023.

In total, 743,811 individuals were tested. Compared with native-born individuals (n=588,778), immigrants (n=155,033) were more likely to have an HIV-positive diagnosis (1% vs. 1.4%, respectively; P < 0.001). From 2019 (total immigrants tested: 22,559) to 2023 (total immigrants tested: 46,385), HIV testing showed a steady increase, with a 5.64% decrease in 2020 (total immigrants tested: 21,287) followed by consistent growth of 20.4% in 2021 (total immigrants tested: 25,620), 20.3% in 2022 (total immigrants tested: 30,823), and 50.5% in 2023. This followed significant fluctuations in the earlier years (total tested in 2017 = 3,530; 2018 = 4,829) due to the initial rapid increase in COBATEST membership.

Multivariate analysis of disaggregated data (n=200,246 individuals tested) showed that the prevalence ratio of HIV-positive diagnoses among immigrants vs. native-born individuals was 2.29 [95% CI, 2.06–2.55; P < 0.001], after adjusting for covariates. No statistically significant change was detected in the prevalence ratio of HIV-positive diagnosis among each group throughout the study periods. Compared to other key population groups, MSM (n=83,077) were more likely to have an HIV-positive diagnosis [PR=4.11, 95% CI, 3.53–4.77; P < 0.001]. A similar result was found when stratified by subpopulations: immigrant MSM [PR=3.29, 95% CI, 3.29–4.18; P < 0.001] and native-born MSM [PR=4.61, 95% CI, 3.80–5.60; P < 0.001]. PWID immigrants had a higher prevalence ratio of HIVpositive diagnosis compared to other immigrant key population groups [PR=1.74, 95% CI, 1.03–2.93; P< 0.001], and a higher prevalence ratio compared to native-born PWIDs, relative to other native-born key population groups [PR=1.55, 95% CI, 1.06–2.29; P < 0.001].

Please find full presentation here.

The VII COBATEST Network Annual Meeting was held online via Zoom on June 6^th, 2025. The new members of the network’s Steering Committee were introduced in the meeting, specifically:

• Sergey Gabrielyan, New Generation Humanitarian NGO, Armenia
• Carlo Kantwerk, Deutsche Aidshilfe, Germany
• Yiannis Charilaou, AIDS Solidarity Movement, Cyprus
• Mariana Vicente, AIDS Action Europe, Germany

The Secretariat also led a discussion on the funding challenges anticipated in 2025 and the broader political situation in Europe influencing them. In addition, an overview of the network’s 2023 data analysis and activities carried out during the past year was presented.

As in previous years, members volunteered to share insights on key issues, innovative projects, and lessons learned. Presentations included:

• Inga Upmace, Baltic HIV Association, Latvia – Outreach events by the Baltic HIV Association
• Charles Ddungu, All Together for Sexual Health, Belgium – Community-based demedicalised HIV counselling and testing
• Abimbola Ajomale, Noaks Arc Mosaik, Sweden – Enhancing HIV testing accessibility through community-driven approaches

A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to an open discussion among members on two pressing topics: migration and access to prevention and treatment, and integrated testing—its advantages, challenges, and implementation strategies.

The meeting closed with remarks from Dr. Laura Fernández López who emphasized the importance of these annual gatherings for information sharing, peer learning, and strengthening collaboration across the network.

Please find the meeting minutes here.

The COBATEST Steering Committee held its regular semi-annual call on 30 April, 2025, via Zoom.

The committee discussed upcoming key events, including the Steering Committee meeting on 4 June 2025and the annual COBATEST Member Meeting on 6 June 2025, both of which will take place online. The member meeting will feature data presentations, breakout discussions, and updates on the network’s activities.

Funding for the network was a central theme of the call and future strategy on how to go about it were made.

The SC also outlined potential topics for the discussions during COBAEST annual meeting in June 2025, such as migration and access to prevention and treatment, integrated testing, and an open session for issues raised by members. In addition a survey will be shared with network’s members to gather input on funding challenges, new legislation affecting CBVCT, interest in presenting good practices, and discussion topics.

Finally, the committee emphasized the importance of presenting COBATEST data, including new variables and its role in international projects like CORE and BOOST.

Dr. Megi Gogishvili spoke in a plenary session at the 2nd International Summit on Women’s Health and Reproductive System, held from March 10th to 12th, 2025, in Valencia, Spain. Her presentation focused on Women and HIV, drawing on insights from Catalonia’s HIV surveillance data and the European Network of Community-Based Testing Centers (COBATEST).

The following key conclusions were highlighted:

• Gender and HIV are closely interconnected, shaping transmission and risk patterns.
  → Biological, social, and structural factors influence how men and women experience HIV risks and outcomes differently.
• A gender-informed, comprehensive approach to HIV is urgently needed, one that takes into account barriers and factors affecting women’s access to testing and treatment.
  → Tackling stigma, improving healthcare access, and addressing socioeconomic challenges are essential to ensure early diagnosis and better treatment adherence among women.
• Inequalities continue to hinder progress in ending HIV, with the lack of a gender perspective being one of the main obstacles.
  → Gender disparities in prevention, care, and research contribute to the gaps in achieving global HIV targets.

The full presentation is available here.

The third CORE project meeting (dedicated to Community Response to End Inequalities in HIV, TB, and Viral Hepatitis) took place in person from February 10th to 12^th, 2025,  in Barcelona, Spain. Nineteen representatives from CORE partner organizations traveled to Barcelona to review the project’s progress and plan its development for the final year.

Dr. Fernández presented the step-by-step adaptation process of the COBATEST data collection tool, as well as the analysis of data following the implementation of the updates. All partners reported on project progress, provided feedback, and discussed pathways to achieving the agreed targets. Please find full presentation here.

The next steps focused on planning the successful completion of the project in its final year.

The 2^nd semi-annual COBATEST Steering Committee meeting for 2024 was held in Barcelona, Spain, from December 16th to 18th. During this meeting, the Committee bid farewell to four members whose three-year terms had come to an end: Lela Cosmaro (Lila Milano, Italy), Trésors Kouadio (Plateforme, Belgium), Christo Krasidis (Aids Solidarity, Cyprus), and Marek Trčka (AIDS Pomoc, Czech Republic).

Discussions focused on planning the 2025 annual COBATEST members’ meeting, exploring potential funding opportunities, and reviewing upcoming activities to further support the network’s members.

The Harm Reduction Conference took place from December 2nd to 4th, 2024, in Warsaw, Poland. Two abstracts were presented by the COBATEST Network at the meeting.

Dr. Laura Fernández-López participated in the BOOST project discussion table, presenting on enhancing standardized HIV/VH testing data collection for community-based harm reduction services through the adaptation of the COBATEST Network’s data collection tool. She provided an overview of how the COBATEST online tool functions and highlighted the key changes made to the data collection questionnaire, particularly the expanded sections focusing on harm reduction.

Dr.Megi Gogishvili presented a poster on a HIV/STI testing patterns and associated behavioral factors among persons who inject drugs in Europe and Central Asia among COBATEST network members from 2014 to 2023.

In total, 123893 tests have been done during the study period, out of which 3.5% (n=4405) were among PWIDs. Tests done among PWIDs varied from 113 to 149 tests through-out the years, besides 2022 (n=2446; 55.5% of the total) and 2023 (n=836, 19% of the total). Of all tested PWIDs, 0.82% (n=36) had HIV-diagnoses, 0.91% (n=40) had Syphilis diagnoses and 6.15% (n=271) had HCV diagnoses. Of all testers, 89.9% (n=3962) were men, and 77.8% (n=28) of HIV-diagnoses were among this group. Sixty-eight percent (n=3031) of tested PWIDs were 25-44 year-old, and had highest prevalence of HIV-diagnoses (69.4.8%; n=25) compared to all age-groups.

Of all tested PWIDs, 9.24% (n=407) were men who have sex with men (MSM) and 7.11% (n=313) were sex workers. Highest percentage of PWIDs were migrants (11.9%; n=525). Compared to other key-groups within PWIDs, migrants had the highest prevalence of HIV-diagnoses (3.55%, n=18/36; p-value <0.001) out of which 55.5% (n=10) were from outside of EU (p-value <0.001).

Of all PWIDs, 88.7% (n=3909) practiced condomless sex, with 0.8% (n=34) HIV-diagnoses (94.4% of all positive diagnoses). This practice varied from 68% (n=85) to 94.5% (n=790) through-out the years. Total of 1031 (23.4%) testers shared needles, out of which 1.6% (n=17) had HIV-diagnoses (47.2% of all positive diagnoses). This practice varied from 15.9% (n=18) to 32.2% (n=39) through-out the years.

Please find the poster here.