"The only test of its kind". PPOZ joins AIDS prevention campaign

For more than 40 years, the world has been struggling with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. And although today knowledge, both epidemiological and medical, is much richer, still no country has dealt with the problem. There are many reasons for this, but the key one is too late diagnosis of infection, i.e., HIV testing.

In Poland, there are currently several options for a diagnostic test. In public medical facilities - HIV testing is by name and requires informed consent from the patient. It happens that precisely the lack of anonymity becomes the main obstacle to testing. That's why, as the initiators of the Campaign point out, the doctor should explain why he or she suspects HIV infection in a particular case and the benefits of the diagnosis (including free treatment). The doctor can also refer the patient to one of the counseling and diagnostic points, where HIV tests are performed without a referral, free of charge and anonymously. At these points, it is possible to talk to an HIV/AIDS counselor, both before and after the test, but, importantly, testing at such points should not replace routine medical diagnosis.

HIV tests are also conducted by private laboratories - no referral is required, the patient's anonymity is preserved, but the patient must pay, and there is no psychological support in case of a positive result.

Tests for home use are available in pharmacies and online stores. However, they cannot substitute for contact with a doctor or counselor at a diagnostic and consultation center.

A timely test, the Campaign initiators point out, offers a chance to start effective antiretroviral therapy. Unfortunately, still nearly half of patients diagnosed are already immunosuppressed, which increases the risk of opportunistic infections and cancer.

What's more - although more than 95 percent of HIV infections in Poland today are acquired during sexual contact, only about 10 percent of adult Poles who have begun a sexual life have taken an HIV test! There is still a large group of people who are unaware of their infection and may unknowingly infect their partners.

Changing patients' attitudes toward HIV testing, according to the Campaign, is to be supported by physicians, who should encourage patients to undergo screening in the case of any atypical, untreatable or recurrent disease, and based on their history. Early diagnosis of HIV infection allows not only to start antiretroviral therapy as soon as possible, but also to reduce the number of new infections.

Doctors of the Healthcare Employers' Agreement also joined the action to promote the National AIDS Center's Campaign.