AIDS From 2015, there is the HIV self-test to buy

From 2015 HIV self-tests available in France

03/12/2014

On the occasion of the World AIDS Day on 1 December, it was announced that HIV self-tests will be offered in France next year. In less than half an hour so that an HIV infection can be detected. The self-tests are controversial.

Respect and normality in dealing with HIV-positive people
On World AIDS Day, December 1, Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe (CSU) in Berlin launched the campaign „Living together positively“, which addresses the unfounded fears of HIV infection in everyday life and should promote respect and normality in dealing with HIV-positive people. Around 80,000 people in Germany live with HIV. The politician told the news agency dpa: „The campaign is an appeal not to exclude HIV-positive people.“

Self-tests available in pharmacies starting this summer
On the occasion of the Global Day of Action, it was announced in France that HIV self-tests will be available from next year. „The self-tests will be available from 1 July 2015 in pharmacies“, French health minister Marisol Touraine declared in Paris on Monday, writes the „Basler newspaper“. In less than 30 minutes, it can be used to detect HIV infection. These so-called HIV home tests should also be made available to Aidshilfe groups. In the tests, a drop of blood or a swab of the oral mucosa is examined. However, such self-tests are highly controversial.

Many do not know about their infection
Proponents hope that these tests will detect otherwise unrecognized infections. This against the background, as many HIV-positive people do not know that they have been infected. This is also the case in Germany. For example, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recently reported that it was estimated that some 14,000 people were unknowingly HIV-infected at the end of last year. In addition, the self-tests should reach people who do not want to go to the doctor or to a health department for a test.

In self-test missing medical advice
Opponents of such tests argue that HIV testing should only be done by professionals, not by private individuals. Even the smallest application errors could give a wrong test result. In addition, there is no guarantee for the quality of the devices. Furthermore, a medical consultation or psychological support would be missing, if the test should be positive. According to the Medical Devices Act, HIV tests in Germany may not be made to private individuals. However, there are numerous providers on the Internet who are based abroad.

HIV testing is not for the „household“
The German AIDS-Hilfe (DAH) also urges caution on its website and writes that most of the HIV tests offered on the internet are not for the „household“ but "for use by experienced medical staff". Even professionals need a longer time and several attempts to get it right, write the experts. Basically you need "in a positive test result necessarily a confirmatory test, which laymen who rely on a self-test, may not take into account". According to data from the DAH, the specificity of most HIV tests in practice is about 99.7 percent. „Out of every 10,000 HIV negatives tested, they get a false positive result, even though they are not infected“ so the experts.
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