The HIV rapid test at scene locations attracts many men who have never taken a test before. Health scientist Jochen Drewes* on quick certainty and anxious waiting.
Mr Drewes, how quickly does the rapid HIV test work?
It takes less than half an hour for the result to be available. But beware: some people are under the illusion that a rapid test can detect an HIV infection the day after a risky situation. This is wrong. Whether the virus has been transmitted or not can only be determined with certainty after three months.
What advantage does the quick test then offer?
It shortens the waiting time. With a laboratory test, you have to wait up to a week for the result. That is a psychological burden. The rapid test is also less time-consuming. No blood has to be drawn from the vein, a drop from the fingertip is sufficient. This is why the test can be used in different places.
Where, for example?
In a gay sauna, outside a gay club... The quick test makes it easier to approach groups that are otherwise difficult to reach. For example, men who have sex with men but don't see themselves as gay. They often find it difficult to go to an AIDS service centre or a gay education project for testing. Instead, they are offered the test where they meet. Of course, the offer always includes detailed counselling about possible infection risks - before and after the test.
And its disadvantages?
As with every antibody test, there are always a few tests that are falsely positive. This false positive result is reported directly in the rapid test. Blood is then taken for a confirmatory test in the laboratory. You have to wait three to four days for the result - with the corresponding fear that the positive result will be confirmed. An HIV test carried out in a laboratory is different to a rapid test. If the result is positive, a second test is immediately carried out with the same blood sample for confirmation. False positive results are thus refuted without the person tested finding out.
Can't you do the rapid test yourself? There are lots of mail order offers on the Internet.
The tests offered there are generally likely to be older test procedures. And with these, not only false-positive but also false-negative test results are possible. In addition, even small application errors increase the probability of producing a false result. It is also better to find out your potentially positive test result from a competent counsellor - and not alone in the privacy of your own home.
More rapid tests were offered during the ICH WEISS WAS ICH TU test weeks. Was it worth it?
Yes, absolutely. The majority of men opted for a rapid test. The offer was the decisive factor for them to take part. 20 per cent had never had an HIV test before.
(Interview: Philip Eicker)
* Jochen Drewes is a research associate at the Free University of Berlin. He is responsible for prevention and psychosocial health research in the Public Health Department. He is also significantly involved in the scientific evaluation of the ICH WEISS WAS ICH TU campaign.
Photo credits: Fotoline/photocase.com
