Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
An Affordable HIV-1 Drug Resistance Monitoring Method for Resource Limited Settings
Published on: March 30, 2014
[HIV/AIDS screening program in community pharmacies in the Basque Country (Spain)]
Iñigo Gorostiza1, Isabel Elizondo López de Landache, Leire Braceras Izagirre
1Unidad de Investigación, Hospital de Basurto, Osakidetza, Bilbao, España. inigo.gorostizahormaetxe@osakidetza.net
Objectives:
To describe the outcomes of the pilot program of a rapid HIV antibody screening test offered at Basque pharmacies, the socio-demographic characteristics of users and their acceptance of the test.
Methods:
Users of a rapid HIV antibody screening test (20 pharmacies) were surveyed. A random sample of 3514 tests (N = 806) performed in 1 year was taken. Statistical analyses included exact tests.
Results:
There were 806 valid questionnaires. Seven tests were positive (0.85%; 95% confidence interval: 0.34-1.75); five of the users with positive tests were men. The mean age was 36.2 years (standard deviation = 11.0; range: 16-82 years; 70.7% men). Users' risk behavior was predominantly heterosexual and half of the users (58.6%) had no previous HIV tests. The main reasons for choosing this test were its speed, and the convenience and accessibility of community pharmacies.
Conclusions:
This new rapid HIV antibody screening test in community pharmacies could supplement other HIV screening programs currently in operation.
