Frequently asked questions

s.a.m health is suitable for anyone who wants to be tested regularly, easily and discreetly for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

To be able to use s.a.m health, you must:

• ...have a German cell phone number.
• ...provide a postal address or DHL Packstation in Germany.
• ...receive an initial consultation from one of the s.a.m health partners (by telephone or in person).
• ...be at least 18 years old.
• ...agree to our General Terms and Conditions (GTC).

With the s.a.m submission test, HIV can be reliably ruled out as early as 6 weeks after a possible infection. This is because our HIV screening test not only detects HIV antibodies, but also the viral component p24. This can be detected in the blood after around 14 days. However, it can take up to six weeks until enough p24 has developed to detect it. This means that HIV can be ruled out much faster with our laboratory test than with the HIV rapid test from the pharmacy, which only gives a reliable result after around 12 weeks.

To register for s.a.m health you must be at least 18 years old.

However, if you are under 18 and need specific advice on sexual health, you should contact one of our checkpoints.

Before we can send you your first test kit, you will need to have an initial consultation with an advisor from one of our partner checkpoints. This short phone call is exclusively for answering important questions about sexually transmitted infections, your personal risk and how to take a sample at home. We will also discuss how often you should get tested and determine the reminder interval with you. Our experienced advisors will be happy to help you at any time if you have any questions about future tests. After the initial consultation, all further consultations are voluntary and you decide how much advice you need.

• If you have had a concrete HIV risk in the last three days (e.g. unprotected anal intercourse with a person of unknown HIV status). The doctor will then decide with you whether your possible risk of infection can be reduced by administering a medication (=PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis).
• If you have symptoms of illness.

We can currently accept payments by credit card, debit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Paypal and Klarna invoice.

If you have any questions or problems, you can contact our support team on +49 (0) 30 69 00 8713 (Mon-Fri from 9-17:00).

Your s.a.m health partner checkpoint is your address for your initial consultation and all questions about sexual health. Even if a test is positive or reactive, the advisors at the partner checkpoint will accompany you and discuss the results and treatment options with you. At s.a.m health, you are always self-determined, but also have trustworthy, medically trained people at your side should you need them. To ensure that you receive the closest possible support, please select the s.a.m health partner checkpoint closest to you during registration.

Our experienced advisors will be happy to help you at any time if you have any questions about future tests. After the initial consultation, all further consultations are voluntary and you decide what advice you need.

s.a.m health is a service for regular testing for sexually transmitted infections with a reminder function every three, six or twelve months. You can choose the reminder interval and test kits do not have to be taken. This means you can choose whether or not you need a new test kit at any time.

If you would like to take a one-off test, you can also ask for a test consultation at your nearest checkpoint or health authority.

No, you are not obliged to make any further purchases of test kits.

However, we will remind you of your next test at the intervals of three, six or twelve months that you selected during your initial consultation. If you do not need a test kit at the time of the reminder, you do not need to do anything else. Your new test kit will only be sent out when you order it again.

However, we recommend regular testing for sexually transmitted infections to all sexually active people and have designed the s.a.m health service accordingly.

For us, sexual health is part of a holistic physical and emotional well-being and is just as much a part of a health-conscious everyday life as sport, relaxation or medical check-ups.

With s.a.m health you can be tested for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.

No. s.a.m health only offers tests for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. If you would like to be tested for hepatitis A, B or C, we recommend that you contact your checkpoint or a doctor.

With s.a.m health you can get tested for the four most important sexually transmitted infections: HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea (gonorrhea) and chlamydia. HIV and syphilis can be detected in the blood, while chlamydia and gonorrhea can be found in the throat, anus, ureters and primary sexual organs (such as the penis or vagina) and can be detected using appropriate samples. The test kits are put together for you according to your information about your genitals and sexual partners. Depending on the test kit you receive: For the test for HIV and syphilis:

• A blood sample kit

For tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea, one or more of these components are suitable for you and your sex life:

• One urine sample kit
• One throat swab kit
• One rectal swab kit
• One vaginal swab kit

You can find everything you need to know about taking samples and swabs in our sample instructions.

We understand that some people do not want to give a blood sample. However, our experience shows that almost all people find it easy to take a blood sample.

Unfortunately, if you do not return a blood sample, we will not be able to carry out the tests for syphilis and HIV. Remember that all your results are confidential and will not be passed on to third parties.

A short video tutorial shows you how to easily draw blood from your fingertip.

Yes, but the test results may be more accurate if you wait until the weaker days of your period.

Yes, in fact it is particularly important to test for chlamydia during pregnancy, as the infection can be passed on to the baby during birth. The cotton swab is only inserted into the lower part of the vagina and has no effect on the baby. The test is just as accurate if you do it during pregnancy.

In addition to testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections, regular care from your doctor is recommended during your pregnancy.

You can usually store the test kit for several months after receiving it. Please make sure that the test kit is not exposed to direct sunlight or high temperature fluctuations. A drawer in the hallway or living room is best.

Please refer to the test components to find out exactly how long you should store the test kit and until when you should use it. All expiration dates are printed or stuck on the test components. If one or more components have expired, you can no longer use the test kit.

Please understand that we cannot offer you a replacement or a refund. It is therefore best to only order test kits if you want to carry out a test promptly.

You will usually receive your results within a week of receiving the samples in our laboratory.

All infections tested at s.a.m health are easily treatable. If a test result is positive, you will receive a message in your account asking you to call your checkpoint (the counseling center you selected during the registration process).

In this case, a counselor at the checkpoint will provide you with the test result and answer your questions. During the consultation, the treatment options will be explained to you and, if you wish, your advisor will support you in making the transition to medical care. This consultation usually takes place by telephone. If you wish, you can also make an appointment for a personal consultation at the Checkpoint.

If the screening test for HIV detects specific antibodies or the viral component p24, we speak of a “reactive” test result. This must then be confirmed by a second laboratory test, only then can we speak of an “HIV-positive” test result.

As “false positive” results can also occur in rare cases, we arrange a confirmation test in the laboratory. As a rule, the residual material from the blood sample you sent in, the so-called reserve sample, is sufficient for this. Only if a possible HIV infection is detected in the confirmation test will you receive a notification in your account with a call-back request from your checkpoint. A counselor will then explain the test result to you. In the event of a positive confirmation test, he/she will answer your initial questions and support you in the transition to medical care.

No test is 100% accurate. Some sexually transmitted infections can only be detected by tests after some time.

Our laboratory works to strict regulations to ensure that the results are as accurate as possible. If you have any concerns about the reliability of your results, please contact your s.a.m health partner to discuss your questions with our qualified healthcare professionals.

In the case of HIV tests, further testing is required after a reactive test to confirm the result. False reactive results (i.e. results in which the test indicates that antibodies against HIV have been found even though there is no HIV infection) are extremely rare. This can happen because the test is set “too cautiously”, so to speak, in order to make the negative result particularly reliable. Therefore, some rare antibodies that are not HIV are interpreted as HIV. However, the confirmatory test will detect this very rare error.

Further information on sexually transmitted infections can be found on the website of Deutsche Aidshilfe https://www.aidshilfe.de/.

If you have tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection, you should inform your current partners and all sexual partners from the last six months. They could have the sexually transmitted infection without knowing it and pass it on to other people. It is therefore important that they also get tested.

If you test positive, you should go to a doctor to get treatment. Our counselors will discuss the treatment options with you.

Submitted samples are processed by our partner laboratory on all working days. Our laboratory is only closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

If your doctor has tested you again after a positive/reactive s.a.m. result and the result was negative, there may be various reasons for this:

The tests in the laboratory are so sensitive (PCR test) that parts of the pathogens whose DNA has been killed by the immune system can still be found even after the infection has subsided and there are few or no symptoms. Unfortunately, the test does not differentiate between living and dead DNA.

Your doctor may have only looked in one place, e.g. only taken a urine sample. However, if you also sent in throat and/or rectal swabs, the pathogen DNA may also have been found there by our laboratory. The samples in the laboratory are analyzed together (pooled), so unfortunately we cannot say where the pathogens were found.

Our partner laboratory performs various types of tests:

For HIV testing, a Generation 5 HIV test is performed. This is the most modern test that tests for both antibodies and antigens and is very reliable.

Syphilis testing varies. If you have never had syphilis, only antibodies are tested (EIA test). If you have already been infected with syphilis, our laboratory performs an RPR test. This tests your blood serum for a current/new infection.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea tests are performed using PCR. Your samples are analyzed together (pooled). During PCR, any DNA from the pathogens is repeatedly duplicated in several runs. The test is stopped either when a high number of DNA replicates (positive result) or when no DNA replicates and is found after a certain number of duplications (negative result).

Hemolytic basically means that the red blood cells in your blood sample had burst, and thus no more serum could be obtained for laboratory analysis.

The causes vary. It may be that the blood sample was exposed to strong vibrations during transport.

Strong sunlight and heat, as well as severe subzero temperatures, can also cause red blood cells to burst. Therefore, please post your samples in the summer or winter just before they are due to be emptied. In summer, also look for a shady mailbox or simply drop off the samples at a post office or post office.

A third possibility is excessive squeezing during the blood collection.

Our tip: It's best to prick the side of your fingertip and massage your finger very gently from top to bottom. With the help of a second person, you can also take the blood sample from the earlobe. This is also somewhat less sensitive to pain.

To select the right test kit for you, we need a few details about your genitals and your sexual partners. This information will always be treated confidentially and never shared with third parties. Depending on the test kit, you will receive: For the HIV and syphilis test:

• A blood sample set

For testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, one or more of these components are suitable for you and your sex life:

• A urine sample kit
• A throat swab kit
• A rectal swab kit

DProtecting your privacy is our top priority, but we cannot process payments anonymously.

For payments, Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe e.V. will appear as the payee on your bank statement, and s.a.m health will be displayed as the intended use, along with several billing codes.

For credit card payments, only the booking text s.a.m health will appear on your credit card statement, along with no further information about the payee.

Only our trained medical professionals can see your test results and will never share them with anyone else.

According to European data protection regulations, information about sexual orientation and health is subject to the highest level of security. Therefore, all data is stored encrypted on a certified server (cloud). Access is restricted to employees of your s.a.m health partner and the s.a.m health headquarters (German AIDS Service) who have logged into the platform using two-factor authentication. The laboratory has limited access and can only enter test results using an anonymous code. Only trained employees of the s.a.m health partner and the s.a.m health headquarters can assign test results to a specific person.

s.a.m health was developed as part of an innovation project by ViiV Healthcare and the German AIDS Service (Deutscher AIDShilfe) in collaboration with existing and previously unreached users and STI testing services. In collaboration with Labor Krone, the service is now available nationwide following a successful pilot in Bavaria.

Coordinated by the German AIDS Service, the regional coverage of counseling services is continuously being expanded through partner checkpoints for s.a.m health. The combination of independent, self-determined sample collection with professional laboratory analysis and confidential advice on STIs and treatment options is unique in Germany. The user-friendly reminder function also supports regular testing for important STIs in people with an increased risk potential.

Our test kits were developed by merging user needs with medical expertise, and the pilot phase already demonstrated that the samples received by the laboratory meet the quality requirements for professional laboratory analysis. Our detailed instructions for sample collection and shipping support users throughout the process, and the s.a.m health team is available to answer any questions.

Before a reactive HIV result is reported, our laboratory performs a confirmatory test to rule out a non-specific HIV result. If HIV infection cannot be ruled out or is confirmed, the user receives a notification in their account requesting a callback.

In a consultation with a counselor, the test results are explained and treatment options for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis are presented. They are referred either to the treating physician or to a list of suitable practices and providers. In cases of suspected HIV infection, a specialized practice close to home is recommended.

Absolutely, gladly. s.a.m health can be offered as an option for regular symptom-free testing (STI screening) as a supplement to existing services.

The s.a.m team is happy to discuss further collaboration opportunities or provide information for practices. Please direct inquiries from physicians, practices, or medical professionals to sam@dah.aidshilfe.de