The inhabitants of Chisinau will be able to have a free rapid oral fluid HIV test on December 1, when it is celebrated World AIDS Day. The event is staged by the public association “Initiativa Pozitiva” (“Positive Initiative”) in the parking space of Metro shop located at 61 Dacia Blvd between 1pm and 8:30pm, IPN reports.

The drive test “Let’s win against AIDS together!” that will involve car racing drivers of different auto clubs of Moldova will take place between 6pm and 8:30pm. These will present racing cars and those who will take the HIV test will be able to drive to test the vehicles.

In a response to an inquiry made by IPN, the Ministry of Health, Social Protection and Family says the World Health Organization recommends the rapid oral fluid HIV testing as a self-testing method.

According to the last guidebook issued by the WHO in 2015, “Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services”, the concentration of anti- HIV ½ antibodies is much lower in oral fluid than in blood. To confirm the HIV infection, two blood samples in at least three tests are examined mandatorily.

The sensitivity of the oral fluid test is of 99.6%, while of the blood test can reach even 100%, varying s from producer to producer, but is definitely lower in oral fluid than in blood. The cost of an oral fluid test is about ten times higher than of a blood test.

The new HIV testing guide of Moldova, which specifies that rapid oral fluid tests can be taken only at the screening stage, is to receive the final approval. The confirmation is based on two blood samples in three tests given that Moldova is a country with low HIV prevalence (<5%).

On January 1, 2017, there were 7,906 persons living with HIV, who were officially registered, in Moldova. According to specialists, the real number of such people is of about 15,500. Thus, about half of the persons living with HIV do not know their status.