A human immunodeficiency virus screening algorithm to address the high rate of false-positive results in pregnant women in Japan.

Background: Prenatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is essential for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. However, false-positive results of screening testing are a concern as they may cause unnecessary emotional stress to pregnant women waiting for confirmatory test results. In regions with an extremely low prevalence, the positive predictive values of screening are unacceptably low rate.

[Testing services for sexually transmitted infections in Japan, public funding for HIV testing compared to public funding for other STI testing].

HIV and other STIs testing services of public funded setting have not been integrated in Japan. Public health centers and other public funded testing sites provide free anonymous HIV test. This has been playing an important role to confirm almost half of asymptomatic patients.