Email 562: FREE Baseline Tests? ~ Living with HIV in the Philippines

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Email 562: FREE Baseline Tests?

Posted by Pozziepinoy on 7:29 PM

Hi,

i was just dx with hiv and my doctor wants some test such as cd4 , viral load, hbsag and cbc he told me it will cost roughly 10k and he referred me to natl kidney inst... do u have suggestion where can i have them for free? Thanks im hopeful for ur quick response.

XXX

POZZIEPINOY'S RESPONSE

Hi XXX.

Thank you for your email.

Usually, if you would go to the government HIV/AIDS Hubs, you will be spending around 5k for the tests. However, if you want FREE lab tests, including CD4 and baseline tests (usually VL is not prescribed in all government hubs as it is quite expensive), you can go to
RITM-ARG in Alabang. All you need to bring is your HIV confirmatory test result. Also, make sure that you come there before 7am as the CD4 test is scheduled from only 7-8am, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. You will be spending a day for all your lab tests and CD4 result to come out and be seen by the HIv doctor in the afternoon. Everything is FREE unless they see that you already have opportunistic infections, which of course, the lab tests and medicines won't be covered by the hub.

You can click the link below to see the map and directions of RITM-ARG. Also, if you go there, just look for Maram, Marvion, Ate Beth or Roland and tell them that Pozziepinoy sent you.

RITM-ARG

I hope I was able to answer your question. Feel free to email me again if you have other concerns.

"WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

NO PLHIV is alone with his or her struggle with HIV!"

-Pozziepinoy-

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