Procedure

Before the test, the patient is informed about the test. As it is essential that the patient gives his consent before an HIV test, an information sheet must be read and signed by the patient beforehand. Afterwards the patient will be given a tube of blood.

An antibody test is then carried out in the laboratory, i.e. it is checked whether the immune system has already produced antibodies during an HIV infection. These antibodies appear in the blood and mark an HIV infection. The test, which is evaluated after 2-3 days, is then sent back to the doctor’s office.

In case of a positive test result, the results should always be discussed with the patient personally. In case of a negative test result, a telephone consultation can also be arranged. The antibody test does not give any information about the severity of the infection.

If an antibody test is positive, the so-called viral load must be determined afterwards. The actual triggering viruses are then detected in the blood. Depending on how many viruses are detected, the stronger or weaker the acute infection.

Where can I get an HIV test?

In principle, you can have an HIV test done in any doctor’s office that also takes blood samples. Since it is in most cases a personal contribution, which is not covered by the statutory health insurance, every doctor who takes blood samples is usually willing to perform this service. In most cases, however, HIV tests are carried out by general practitioners, internists, infectiologists or company physicians.

Is the HIV test anonymous?

The HIV test is an anonymous test, i.e. there must be no connection between the result and the patient from whom the blood was taken (only the sending doctor and the laboratory know the name of the test result). If a positive test result is obtained, i.e. if a patient is infected with HIV, the treating physician has the duty to inform the patient.He must first inform the patient about the test result and discuss further treatment steps (treatment, referral to colleagues, etc.) with him. Furthermore, an HIV infection is an infectious disease that must be reported to the Robert Koch Institute as a new disease. This report is also made anonymously, which means that the name and address of the patient are not disclosed.