Medical Equipment & Supplies
Rapid HIV Test
HIV tests are urgently needed for people who may be in the early stages of HIV infection, with few or no symptoms. Waiting for results can be stressful and may delay possible treatment, so MSF uses a blood test that can determine HIV status within 15 minutes. If a patient tests positive, a second, confirmatory test is made.
Rates of HIV remain high in many of the countries where MSF works. In fact, one person in five is HIV positive in some countries in southern Africa. The risk of HIV transmission is also a major concern for people who have been victims of sexual violence, particularly in countries where rape is used as a weapon of war.
Learning one’s HIV status can be life-changing. All HIV tests are voluntary in MSF projects, and staff ensure that patients testing positive have access to health education, counselling and support, and quality medical care.
