by Vivian Yang

JD Health and Wondfo Health, an instant medical test kits provider in China, jointly launched a report on 2020 HIV test products’ online consumption.

The report was launched on November 30^th, one day ahead of the World AIDS Day on December 1^st.

There are three main types of HIV self-testing products on the market in China. According to the report, in 2019, 49% of users chose blood test kits, while about 40% people opted for the combined methods of a blood test and an oral swab. In 2020, however, though the traditional blood test method continues to be people’s first choice, users who chose new methods of saliva or urine-based tests increased by 6% compared with 2019, showing a rising popularity of non-invasive methods.

People’s awareness of sexually transmitted diseases(STD) keeps rising, as the report shows. In the past two years, HIV tests accounted for 75% of tests for STD, while syphilis and hepatitis accounted for about 20% and 5 % respectively. In the third quarter of 2020, joint testing of HIV + syphilis and HIV + hepatitis B and C increased by nearly 10% compared with the same period last year.

According to the report, 90% of online buyers of HIV self-testing kits in year 2018-2019 are young males. But the report also points out that females, especially those from high-stakes rural areas, are facing growing risks. UNAIDS’ data revealed that, among the 1.7 million new HIV infections and patients found worldwide in 2018, 48% were female cases.

Additionally, the report highlights that 60% online buyers of HIV test kits are from first and second-tier cities in China.

A livestream event with Chinese epidemiologists is being held concurrently on November 30^th on the topic of AIDS prevention and treatment.

(vivian.yang@jd.com)