HIV self-test kits are now available in Switzerland

Until now, HIV tests in Switzerland could only be executed in a professional environment, for example by a doctor or in a hospital. Starting with 19th of June, anyone will be able to test themselves at home to check whether they have been infected with HIV. The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and Federal Commission for Sexual Health (FCSH) expect that the simple access to HIV testing will motivate more people to protect their own, as well as public health, by establishing whether or not they have the virus.

The test possesses a CE mark and thus has been approved by Swissmedic, the Swiss therapeutic product agency. Consequently, the risk of purchasing a counterfeit product is minimal.

All kits are accompanied by an instruction leaflet, which explains how to use the product, as well as how to behave depending on the outcome of the test. The kit can also be bought online, but both the FOPH and Swissmedic recommend to buy the kit at a local pharmacy or druggist, in order to receive adequate information.

See the report in English (change to Italian, French or German in the top-right corner) here.

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