• More resources needed to prevent and combat HIV/AIDS
  • HIV HIV
  • Communication on HIV prevention in the community

Currently, the management of HIV-infected people still faces many difficulties, with potential infectious factors in the community. To help people at high risk of HIV infection quickly and promptly access services to detect, prevent HIV infection and provide early treatment for HIV-infected people, the Online HIV testing model is very necessary.

Deployed in the province since May 2022, the HIV Online testing model has helped people, especially those at high risk, access HIV prevention services more quickly, while encouraging people at risk of HIV to self-test and detect their condition. The model has shown practical effectiveness, contributing to removing barriers in accessing HIV testing services and reducing the risk of HIV transmission in the community.

Instructions for customers to use the OraQuick HIV test kit at the Ca Mau Provincial Center for Disease Control.

Instructions for customers to use the OraQuick HIV test kit at the Ca Mau Provincial Center for Disease Control.

Bachelor of Testing Ly Van Thua, Department of Testing - Diagnostic Imaging - Functional Exploration, Center for Disease Control of Ca Mau province, said: "Previously, if people wanted to test for HIV, they had to go to a medical facility or register at a community group to do it. Currently, with the development of information technology, people only need a smartphone or computer with an Internet connection to self-assess their risk of HIV infection and self-test for HIV through a rapid test kit. This is a form of self-testing for HIV at home that is accurate, convenient, safe, highly confidential and completely free."

The HIV self-test kit comes with illustrated instructions, is easy to use and can be performed anywhere, anytime. People just need to log in to the website: https://tuxetnghiem.vn and follow the instructions to receive a free oral HIV self-test. With these simple steps and an instructional video clip, people will self-test, read and report the results. If the result is "non-reactive", the person performing the test can access HIV infection prevention services such as: pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condoms, syringes... But if the result is "reactive", the customer will be advised and referred to the Ca Mau Provincial Center for Disease Control for confirmation and treatment advice.

Rapid test kits are provided to customers in 2 forms: shipping service (customers pay shipping fees) and customers pick them up themselves at the Department of Testing - Diagnostic Imaging - Functional Testing.

According to statistics from the Ca Mau Provincial Center for Disease Control, from 2022 to present, the province has provided services to 1,198 orders. From the beginning of 2025 to present, there have been more than 70 new orders, of which more than 930 people had reactions. These customers were referred to confirmatory HIV testing laboratories. 100% of customers with positive confirmatory HIV test results were counseled and referred for ARV treatment.

This model helps increase access to more people at high risk in the community, detect new positive cases early and connect them to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and ARV treatment services, helping to improve health and prevent HIV infection in the community.

The model of providing HIV test kits via the website has been evaluated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as highly effective. The Ca Mau Provincial Center for Disease Control has increased communication so that the service can be widely deployed in the community, especially those at high risk, towards the major goal of the national strategy to end AIDS by 2030./.

Minh Khang

Source: https://baocamau.vn/trien-khai-rong-rai-dich-vu-xet-nghiem-hiv-online-a39836.html