To register for the testing event, write to aidsberatung@diakonie-passau.de.
In addition, the AIDS Advice Centre is offering discounted self-test kits (rapid tests) for five euros per test throughout November.
Why is testing so important and what types of test are there?
An HIV test gives you certainty. Early diagnosis is crucial for access to life-saving treatment. There are two ways to get tested: laboratory tests, where a blood sample drawn from your arm is sent to a lab for analysis, and rapid tests, which are done on the spot using a self-test kit. A laboratory test can detect the presence of HIV six weeks after infection, or ten weeks in the case of hepatitis C and syphilis. The results are available within a week and are communicated in person at the AIDS Advice Centre. A rapid test, on the other hand, only requires a drop of blood from the fingertip and takes just a few minutes, so that you can get the result during your consultation appointment. However, please note that the result of the rapid test is only conclusive 12 weeks or more after potential exposure to the pathogen.