Call for Abstracts

Virtual Conference Dates: March 29 – April 1, 2022

The goals of the conference are to foster the development and use of new testing technology/methodology in the United States and to improve testing practices. Abstracts from multiple areas (laboratory, surveillance, and program) that are within the categories listed and support the goals of the conference are encouraged. The descriptions and topic examples are provided as guides and are not meant to represent an exhaustive list of topics. CLICK HERE to download the category descriptions.

Abstract Submission Dates

Please submit your abstracts/discussion panel proposals during these dates:

Abstract Submission Guidelines

All abstracts should be submitted in the Scientific Data Abstract Format unless involving programmatic or descriptive (not data-driven) studies, which may be submitted in the Descriptive Summary Format.

Scientific data abstracts should not exceed 350 words and can include one table and one figure separate from the abstract. The abstract should contain these four sections with bolded section headings within the text of the abstract submission. Section headings do not count toward the word count:

• Background: State the study aim/objectives, hypothesis tested, or description of the problem. Should explain why abstract is important or novel or provide context/explanation for doing study.
• Methods: Methods for testing and data analysis (specific statistical analyses conducted, specific population studied, selection and origin of specimens evaluated, and standard used for comparison).
• Results: Specific results with appropriate statistical analysis. Describe your main findings with data. Statements such as “to be completed” or “to be presented” are not acceptable.
• Conclusion: Explain your main findings and why they are important. Conclusions should be supported by the findings. Concluding statements such as “the results will be discussed” are not acceptable

Descriptive summary abstracts should not exceed 350 words and can include one table and one figure separate from the abstract. The abstract should contain these four sections with bolded section headings within the text of the abstract submission. Section headings do not count toward the word count.

• Project: Description of the project
• Issue: Specific project problems or needs addressed by the abstract
• Results: Qualitative or quantitative summary of implementation facilitators and barriers
• Lessons Learned: Summary of lessons learned and implications

Please do not include grant acknowledgements, literature references, or copyright or trademark symbols.

Scoring Abstract Proposals

Each abstract will be reviewed and scored based on the following criteria

• Scope:  The topic is consistent with the abstract topics. 
• Importance:  The abstract contains innovative or new findings that impact diagnostics
• Methodology: The study design and methods meet the abstract objective, and the quality of reported data is acceptable
• Clarity:  The ideas and findings are communicated clearly and concisely.

All criteria will be given equal weight.

Discussion Panel Proposals Submission

Discussion panels will be considered for the conference. The panels are intended to promote in-depth discussion and feedback on a particular topic and be interactive with conference participants. Topic areas of interest can be submitted during the regular abstract submission period.

Late-Breaking Abstract Submission

The 2022 Advancing HIV, STI and Viral Hepatitis Testing Conference offers a late-breaking abstract deadline for abstracts that highlight novel and substantive studies of high impact. The goal is to enrich the conference with studies that are completed after the general abstract submission deadline.