Is an HIV test necessary for a blood donation?

When a blood donation is made, in addition to a detailed questioning about previous illnesses, an HIV or AIDS disease is also asked. If an HIV infection is indicated, the patient cannot act as a blood donor. If the patient has no HIV infection in the past and donates blood, the blood of each donor is subjected to a detailed examination. This includes hepatitis infection and the search for HIV infection. Only when all tests are negative does the donor’s blood enter the blood bank and is available for other patients.

HIV rapid test

Several commercial providers distribute a rapid HIV test that can detect HIV infection after only 12 weeks. To perform the test, three drops of blood are taken from the finger and placed on a test carrier. After about 30 minutes the result can be read on the test set.

An HIV infection can be excluded if the test is negative and there has been no risk of HIV infection in the last 12 weeks. If the test reacts, this is a positive result, i.e. an HIV infection has probably occurred. If the rapid test is positive, the patient’s blood should be sent to the laboratory for a confirmatory test.

The result is then ready after about 7 days. There are also rapid tests that can be performed with the patient’s saliva. For this purpose, the patient must stroke the gums with a cotton swab to obtain material for the test.

In countries such as England or the USA, the HIV rapid test has been on the market and available from pharmacies for several years. These tests can also be performed and read by anyone. In Germany there are no such rapid tests for self-testing yet. Since the rapid test is a medical device, the common opinion is that this type of diagnostic procedure belongs in the hands of a physician.