Six pharmacies in the Alpes-Maritimes are offering, for the first time in France, support for patients who carry out a rapid HIV screening test on site.
- Six pharmacies in the Alpes-Maritimes now offer support to patients who take a rapid HIV diagnostic test.
- These pharmacies are located in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Cap d’Ail and Menton.
- There will be a preliminary interview, the test then the announcement of the results.
This is a first in France: six pharmacies in the Alpes-Maritimes now offer support to patients who take a rapid HIV diagnostic test. More precisely, the pharmacies are located in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Cap d’Ail and Menton, the pharmacists take care of patients before, during and after the test.
HIV tests with the pharmacist: experiment before generalizing it
Why are there only six pharmacies offering “rapid HIV diagnostic orientation tests” ? Because it is, for the moment, an experiment. In all other pharmacies in France, patients can find these rapid HIV diagnostic tests for sale. But, it is only in the six selected that patients can do their test with the pharmacist.
“The project will initially be deployed on an experimental basis in certain areas of the Alpes-Maritimes, before a potential extension to other territories, less endowed with medical resources, depending on the results. explains the press release from the association “Objectif AIDS Zero, Nice and the Alpes-Maritimes are committed!”, relayed by Nice Morning.
In France, around 6,000 new HIV contaminations are recorded each year, according to the Pasteur Institute.
AIDS: how is the pharmacy test done?
So there are several steps. The first is a pre-test interview with the pharmacist. During this moment, several themes are discussed such as, for example, the risks taken during unprotected sexual intercourse, but also the possibility of a positive result.
Pharmacists from the six pharmacies in the Alpes-Maritimes have received training on the various sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as well as on the route to advise the patient if he is affected by this virus.
The second step is carrying out the test: this consists of taking a drop of blood from the patient’s fingertip, like measuring diabetes, to analyze it. 30 minutes later, the results are in. However, even if it is carried out with the pharmacist, the confidentiality and anonymity of patients are guaranteed. In addition, they do not need a prescription or advance fees.
