FAQ

The s.a.m health service is designed to adapt to your life and your needs, making it easy to integrate sexual health into your everyday life. In four simple steps, you can take advantage of our offer for regular, discreet and uncomplicated testing for the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

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:

With the s.a.m. single-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 about 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 the age of 18 and need specific advice on sexual health, you should contact one of our checkpoints.

Before we can send you your first test kit, an initial consultation with a consultant from one of our partner checkpoints is necessary. This short phone call is exclusively for answering important questions about sexually transmitted infections, your personal risk and taking samples at home. We will also discuss how often you should be tested and determine the reminder interval with you. You will then receive all further test kits via our reminder function or you can order a new test kit by SMS if required. This will then be sent to you simply and discreetly by post.

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.

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 counselors at the partner checkpoint will accompany you and discuss the results and treatment options with you. With 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 your nearest s.a.m health partner checkpoint during the registration process.

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.

You don’t need a smartphone to use s.a.m health. An Internet-enabled cell phone that can receive text messages is sufficient. You can register for the s.a.m health service on the s.a.m health website using a laptop or PC with an active internet connection.

You can also enter and use the links for online payment and appointment booking that you receive in the SMS from s.a.m health in your browser window on your laptop or PC.

If you live in Germany but don’t have a German cell phone number, s.a.m health may not be the right offer for you. Deutsche Aidshilfe can provide you with information about STI tests and other suitable services that are better suited to your needs. You can find more information about STI testing here.

s.a.m health is a service for regular testing for sexually transmitted infections with a reminder function every three, six or twelve months. The reminder interval can be selected and test kits do not have to be removed. You are therefore free to choose whether you need a new test kit or not 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. You can find the locations here.

We can currently accept payments by credit card and payments via GooglePay and ApplePay.

If you have already completed your first test with s.a.m health, you can order further test kits simply by texting “New test kit” to +49 1573 599 4380. A new consultation is not necessary, but is possible if you need to talk about sexual health and sexually transmitted infections.

The test kit will be sent to you as usual in simple, inconspicuous packaging to the address you have provided. If your address has changed in the meantime, you can also let us know by text message.

s.a.m health is a discreet individual service, so you can only register with s.a.m health once and for one person with the same mobile phone number. Orders for more than one person from the same cell phone number cannot be processed and dispatched.

Registration via our online form is only necessary once and all further orders are placed discreetly by SMS.

If you have already received a test kit from us and would like to order a new one, please send a text message with “New test kit” to +49 1573 599 4380 or simply reply to one of the previous text messages on your phone with “New test kit”.

If you are already registered and would like to make an appointment for your initial consultation, please contact our support team with your customer ID on +49 (0) 30 69 00 8713 (Mon-Fri from 9-17:00).

No, you are not obliged to purchase any further test kits.

However, we will remind you of your next test at the intervals of three, six or twelve months that you choose 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 dispatched when you place a new order (unless you have requested automatic debiting from your credit card).

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.

If you have problems registering for s.a.m health, this may be due to your mobile phone number.

Please note that registration is only required once and further test kits are ordered by SMS and not via our online form.

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

If your delivery address or telephone number changes, a notification to s.a.m health is essential in order to continue to receive important information and new test kits.

You can update your personal data by text message to +49 1573 599 4380 or by email with the subject “Update Information” to sam@dah.aidshilfe.de.

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 and chlamydia. HIV and syphilis can be detected in the blood, chlamydia and gonorrhea can occur in the throat, anus, ureters and primary sexual organs (such as the penis or vagina) and can be detected by appropriate samples. The test kits are put together for you according to your information about your genitals and sex partners. Depending on the test kit you receive: For the test for HIV and syphilis:

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

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.

If you do not return a blood sample, we will unfortunately 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 take blood from your fingertip.

Please send your samples with the enclosed stamped envelope: Labor Medizinisches Labor Nord, Essener Straße 108, 22419 Hamburg.

Please send your samples on the same day they are taken, dropping them in the letterbox on Fridays, weekends or (before) public holidays is not a problem and will not affect your test result.

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

Yes. During pregnancy, it is even more important to test for chlamydia, as the infection can be transmitted 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 take it during pregnancy.

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

If all test results are negative (negative = no infection), you will receive the information by text message. If one of your test results is positive, you will receive a text message from your s.a.m health partner asking you to call.

A counselor will explain the treatment options to you and can arrange an appointment with you at the checkpoint. All infections tested at s.a.m. health are well treatable.

You will usually receive your results within a week of receiving the samples in our laboratory. You will also be notified by SMS when the samples are received.

If you lose your phone after sending an s.a.m health test kit to our lab, please contact us as soon as possible. Send us an e-mail to sam@dah.aidshilfe.de or a text message to +49 1573 5994380.

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

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

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

As “false positive” results can also occur in rare cases, an HIV confirmation test is automatically carried out in this case. As a rule, the blood sample you send in is sufficient. You will only receive a text message asking you to report to your checkpoint once the result of the confirmation test is available. 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 in tests after some time.

Our laboratory works according 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 tests are 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 although no HIV infection is present) are extremely rare. This can happen if 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 confirmation test will detect this very rare error.

If the test results are negative, you will receive a text message informing you that there is no infection, taking into account the diagnostic window (time between a possible infection and its detectability or certain exclusion). These messages are sent by your partner checkpoint after the laboratory results have been received and are absolutely trustworthy and reliable.

If you have a reactive HIV or syphilis test or positive results for chlamydia or gonorrhea, you will receive a text message asking you to call your partner checkpoint, where your counselor will go through the results and next steps with you.

By default, you will not receive any written results with the results notification. If you still need your results in writing, call your s.a.m health partner checkpoint and discuss this with a counselor. They will then decide on the phone whether you can receive a written notification of the results. In the case of reactive or positive results, we can arrange for a written notification of the results as a PDF by email at your express request, e.g. if you need this for your doctor.

However, emails are not compatible with our data security requirements and obligations for medical diagnoses and you must be aware of this risk.

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. You 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.

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

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

s.a.m health usually communicates with you exclusively by SMS. If the SMS cannot be delivered to you, we will ask you by e-mail whether your cell phone number has changed.

If you lose your phone after sending an s.a.m health test kit to our lab, please contact us as soon as possible. Send us an e-mail to sam@dah.aidshilfe.deor an SMS to +49 1573 5994380.

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

For payments Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe e.V. will appear on your bank statement as the payee and the purpose of payment will be indicated alongside several billing codes S.A.M. S.A.M. is displayed.

For payments by credit card, only the booking text appears S.A.M. S.A.M.BERLIN DE and no further details of the payee on your credit card statement.

Only our trained healthcare professionals can see your test results and will never share them with third parties.

Information on sexual orientation and health is subject to the highest security level according to the European Data Protection Regulation. All data is therefore stored in encrypted form on a certified server (cloud).

Only employees of your s.a.m health partner and the s.a.m health head office (Deutsche Aidshilfe) who have registered on the platform with 2-factor authentication have access to it. The laboratory only has restricted access and can only insert the test results with an anonymous code. Only the trained employees of the s.a.m health partners and the s.a.m health head office are able to assign the test results to a specific person.

According to the EU General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to have your personal data deleted. Please simply send an SMS with the word ‘DATA DELETION’ to +49 1573 5994380.

Our service will be automatically terminated for you and you will not receive any more test kits from us.

Please note that we are legally obliged to store data (e.g. orders and payment data). These will only be deleted after the statutory retention period has expired.

If your delivery address or telephone number changes, a notification to s.a.m health is essential in order to continue to receive important information and new test kits.

You can update your personal data by text message to +49 1573 599 4380 or by email with the subject “Update Information” to sam@dah.aidshilfe.de.

As part of its commitment to achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 milestones, our partner ViiV Healthcare has made financial resources available for the introduction of the social fund for s.a.m health. This enables us to provide our users with a monthly quota of subsidized test kits for just €10. The reduced test offer applies to people who do not have the financial means to get tested despite being at increased risk of contracting HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.

Eligibility for discounted tests is clarified in a confidential and trusting consultation and must also be registered for further test kits with the respective s.a.m health partner in consultation with the consultant.

Trust in the information provided by our users is our top priority. The information on the financial situation is stored in the s.a.m health platform when applying for a discount. Like all data at s.a.m health, this data is subject to the highest data protection requirements; you can find out more about this under data protection.

In principle, there is no entitlement to a discounted test kit. People who have been or are regularly exposed to an increased risk of infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections AND who do not have the financial means for the test kit are entitled to a reduced test from the social fund.

However, test kits at a price of €10 can only be allocated within the scope of the available resources of the Social Fund. Even if all criteria are met, a discounted test kit cannot always be provided automatically.

Among other things, there is an increased risk of contracting HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases:

To assess the need based on the financial situation, we take into account

If you have any questions about your individual eligibility for a reduced test, please contact your test counseling center.

Like all other users, you must first register via our form on the website and select your local s.a.m health partner for the initial consultation. During this consultation, you tell your advisor that you would like to take advantage of a reduced test from the social fund.

If you are eligible for the discount and there are still funds available from the social fund in the current month, you will be sent an individual payment link. Via this link you will then only pay a €10 contribution.

You go through all the steps in the process just like all s.a.m health users. All you have to do is mention your need for a discounted test kit during the consultation and your advisor will guide you confidentially and confidentially through all the next steps.

If you already use s.a.m health, please contact your s.a.m health partner checkpoint to find out about a discount from the social fund. You will find the contact details and office hours in your SMS. If you no longer have the SMS on your phone, you can find the contact details of the partner checkpoints here.

Unfortunately, yes. Our fund also only has limited financial resources. Nevertheless, we endeavor to take all needs and individual situations into account. Please understand if all the discounted test kits are taken by the time you call. We do our best to provide as many discounted test kits as possible.

If no other discounted test kits are available at the time of your request, your advisor will work with you to find alternative testing options in your area.

The test interval depends on your personal life and risk situation and will be agreed with you during the consultation. In this test interval you can then – after another short consultation with your s.a.m health partner – order another discounted test.

From a clinical point of view, it does not make sense to be tested more frequently than once a quarter (keyword “diagnostic window”, further information on this can be found on our website in the articles on our tests).

You can therefore order a discounted test kit at the earliest three months after the last test kit. Please understand that all discounted test kits (including follow-up test kits) are always subject to limited availability.

Your eligibility for a reduced test from the social fund will be checked in consultation with your advisor at your local s.a.m health partner. You will be informed of the current availability during the consultation.

For follow-up tests, you must also contact your advice center to order a discounted test kit and request the individual payment link. If all the discounted test kits are taken, your advisor will work with you to find alternatives.

You will not incur any costs during the registration process and registration and initial consultation are always free of charge. An initial consultation is necessary to obtain a test kit.

s.a.m. health is not the only way to regularly test for HIV and STIs. If our test kit without a discount is not right for you, your test counseling center or Deutsche Aidshilfe can show you alternative testing options that suit your situation and personal needs.

Broad access to regular tests for all people in need of HIV/STI tests was the focus for all initiators of the project from the outset. Our users also frequently ask us about ways to finance tests for other users in a spirit of solidarity.

We are pleased that we are able to set up the social fund initially with the support of ViiV Healthcare and will keep you up to date on any additions to the social fund.

If you would like to contribute up to €500 to the social fund as a private individual, you can simply make a donation to Deutsche Aidshilfe with the reference “s.a.m health social fund”.

Donation account of Deutsche Aidshilfe e.V. Deutsche Apotheker- und Ärztebank eG (apoBank) IBAN: DE97 3006 0601 0003 5005 00 BIC: DAAEDEDDXXX Purpose: s.a.m health social fund

As an organization or for larger donations, please contact the s.a.m health team directly at sam@dah.aidshilfe.de or 030-690087-13.

s.a.m health was developed as part of an innovation project by ViiV Healthcare and Deutsche Aidshilfe together with existing and previously unreached users and STI testing services. In collaboration with the Medizinisches Labor Nord laboratory, the service is available nationwide following a successful pilot in Bavaria.

Coordinated by Deutsche Aidshilfe, the regional coverage of counseling services is being continuously expanded by 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 to date. The user-friendly reminder function also supports regular testing for important STIs in people with an increased risk potential.

Further information on the project and its partners can be found in the “About us” section.

Our test kits are the result of merging user needs with medical expertise and the pilot phase has already shown that the samples received by the laboratory meet the quality requirements for professional laboratory analysis. Our detailed instructions for taking and sending the samples support users in the process, and the s.a.m health team is also available to answer any questions.

Negative test results are discreetly communicated to users by text message. As soon as a result is positive or reactive, users are asked to call back to their partner checkpoint.

Before a reactive HIV result is reported, a confirmatory test is carried out in our laboratory to rule out a non-specific HIV result. If an HIV infection cannot be ruled out or is confirmed, the user will receive a text message with a callback request.

In a conversation with a counselor, the test results are then explained and treatment options for chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis are pointed out and either referred to the treating physicians or to a list of suitable practices and practitioners. In the event of a possible infection with HIV, a specialist practice close to home is recommended.

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

The s.a.m team will be happy to provide further cooperation opportunities or information material for practices. Please send inquiries from doctors, practices or medical professionals to sam@dah.aidshilfe.de