What screening for which disease?

Verified 01 September 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Screening allows you to know if you are infected with a virus (HIV, hepatitis...) or affected by a disease (lead poisoning, osteoporosis).

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing can detect the presence of the virus.

One early detection relative to the date of infection allows for prompt and effective treatment, improving long-term outcome. Thus, treatment is most effective when started early.

Situations concerned

You can be tested for HIV at any time, including:

  • You're afraid you've taken a risk
  • In a stable relationship, you want to be sure that you are not infected and that you can give up using condoms
  • In case of change of partner and multi-partnership
  • You are planning to become pregnant or have an abortion
  • You are using or have used intravenous drugs
  • You are seropositive for HBV (hepatitis B) or HCV (hepatitis C)
  • You have or have just had a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
  • In case of rape.

FYI  

if you have just been exposed to HIV risk, go to a hospital emergency department as soon as possible, preferably within the first 4 hours, within 48 hours at the latest. One post-exposure treatment (TPE) can prevent contamination.

Screening testing is routine for the following:

  • Blood donation
  • Semen donation
  • Organ donation
  • Breast milk donation
  • Blood transfusion
  • Pregnancy

Techniques and places to get tested

Screening can be done with a blood test or a rapid laboratory orientation test (Trod). It is also possible to do a self-test.

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By blood test

The HIV serology currently carried out in the medical biology laboratory, through a blood test, is the 4th generation Elisa test detecting:

  • HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies
  • A virus antigen called P24.

The screening blood test may be done from 21e or 15e day depending on the situation at risk. It can be positive at this time.

But a negative test is completely reliable 6 weeks after risk-taking, if carried out in a laboratory.

However, waiting 6 weeks to get tested is risking losing the benefit of early treatment.

So in the case of a negative test at 21 or even 15 days, we cannot say that we are not contaminated, we have to do the screening again at week 6.

To get tested:

  • You may contact your treating doctor or a doctor in a liberal practice who prescribes a blood test to be carried out in a medical laboratory, refundable to 100% by the Health Insurance
  • You can go to an anonymous testing center and free (example: a Free Center for Information, Screening and Diagnosis-CEGIDD)
  • You can go to a medical testing lab without an appointment and without medical prescription, that is, without prescription. This review is covered by the Health Insurance without advance payment.
The test result is positive

The biologist, if you have performed the screening without a doctor's prescription, or the prescribing doctor will refer you to a specialist for treatment.

The test result is negative

You can be reassured if the last risk of exposure to the virus was 6 weeks or more old.

By a rapid biological orientation test (Trod)

The rapid biological orientation test (Trod) can be carried out from from 21e or 15e day depending on the situation at risk. It can be positive at this time.

But a negative test is completely reliable 3 months after risk-taking if the test is performed using a TROD.

However, waiting 3 months to get tested is risking losing the benefit of early treatment.

So if you have a negative test at 21 or 15 days, you can't say you're not infected, you have to do the screening again.

The Trod is CE-marked and applied to the blood with all its constituents, serum and plasma by means of a reagent detecting HIV 1 and 2 infection.

This method makes it possible to have a result in 30 minutes maximum.

You can surrender for free in particular in one of the following establishments:

  • Associative structures involved in the prevention of health or the reduction of risks and harm associated with the consumption of psychoactive substances
  • Centers for care, support and prevention in addictology (CSAPA)
  • Reception and support centers for the reduction of risks for drug users (CAARUD)
  • Therapeutic Coordination Apartments (ACT)
  • Health care beds
  • Nursing beds
  • Family Planning or Education Centers (FPEC)
  • Family information, consultation or counseling establishments (EICCF)
  • Center for Free Information, Screening and Diagnosis (CEGIDD)
  • To an HIV/AIDS organization.

A health care practitioner can help guide you to one of these facilities.

People who are most at risk of transmission may benefit from Trod screening. These include:

  • Men who have sex with men
  • Heterosexual people who have had more than one sexual partner in the last 12 months
  • Populations of Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique
  • People who inject or have injected psychoactive substances
  • People from an area where many cases (new or old) exist, including sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean
  • Persons in prostitution
  • Persons detained or formerly detained
  • Multi-partner transgender people
  • People whose sex partners are infected with HIV and whose viral load is detectable.
The test result is positive

You are oriented and, if necessary, accompanied to one or more structures allowing:

  • Conducting medical biology tests
  • And therapeutic management.
The test result is negative

You are informed:

  • Limitations related to the interpretation of the test result
  • And the possibility of carrying out a medical biology examination.

By self-test

If you wish to screen yourself alone at home, you can go to a pharmacy to buy a HIV self-test of an amount between €10 and €28. It is not reimbursed by the Health Insurance.

The screening test can be done from 21e or 15e day depending on the situation at risk. It can be positive at this time. But a negative test is completely reliable 3 months after risk-taking.

However, waiting 3 months to get tested is risking losing the benefit of early treatment.

A test can therefore be positive as early as 21 or even 15 days, but a negative test is reliable at 3 months. So in the case of a negative test at 21 days, we cannot say that we are not infected, we have to do the screening again.

The self-test must be run correctly. You should read the package leaflet carefully before starting the test to limit the possibility of errors.

Sida Info Service uploads videos of the presentation of these self-tests.

The test result is positive

A confirmatory laboratory test using a blood test is needed to confirm the diagnosis.

The test result is negative

You can be reassured if the last risk-taking was 3 months or more old.

Otherwise, retest with a self-test, Trod, or laboratory test.

Reminder

For any questions, you can get closer to Sida Info Service.

Who shall I contact

  • Sida Info Service

    Aids information, orientation, listening. Respect for anonymity. Direct telephone referral to specialists (lawyers, medical staff) from certain times.

    By telephone

     0800 840 800

    Free call and service from landline or mobile phone

    24/7

    From foreigner: 00 33 1 41 83 42 77 (cost of call to be borne by the appellant)

    By E-mail

    Access to contact form

The organized screening breast cancer if you have between 50 and 74 inclusive, without symptoms and having no particular risk factors for breast cancer, other than your age.

FYI  

If you have a personal or family medical history, or genetic predispositions, other ways of early detection may be offered. Talk to a healthcare professional.

The interval between 2 tests is 2 years.

You are personally invited by your health insurance organization to carry out the screening every 2 years.

If you have not completed the screening exam following this invitation, your health insurance organization will restart you.

Thus, two retries are carried out within a maximum period of 12 months.

If the screening is not carried out, you are invited again 2 years after the invitation has been sent.

Please note

Screening mammography with an approved radiologist is now offered as part of the national organized screening program. This device allows you to benefit from guarantees of quality and safety. It is also possible to do individual screening (or an individual detection approach).

If you have a high or very high risk of breast cancer, you can benefit from a specific follow-up adapted to your individual situation. Support is 100% for examinations recommended in this situation.

Mammography, done as part of organized screening, is managed by 100% by the Health Insurance, without advance payment.

If additional tests are offered by your radiologist, they will be taken care of under the usual conditions of reimbursement.

The National Cancer Institute devotes a organized breast cancer screening page.

Organized colorectal cancer screening affects you (men and women) every 2 years if you have between the ages of 50 and 74.

If you are in this age group, you will receive a letter at your home inviting you:

  • You can either remove the test kit from your doctor at a visit
  • Either remove this test kit from a pharmacy
  • Either to order this kit directly online (by logging in via France Connect)

If you take this test away from a healthcare professional, they will make sure you understand the instructions for use.

Test analysis is automatically supported at 100% by Social Security.

FYI  

If you are at high or very high risk of developing colorectal cancer, your doctor will suggest an alternative screening procedure.

If you have not carried out the test, you are re-started by your health insurance organization.

2 retries are made within a maximum of 12 months.

The National Cancer Institute devotes a organized colorectal cancer screening page.

You are involved in organized cervical cancer screening if you have between 25 and 65 inclusive even if you are:

  • Pregnant
  • Menopausal
  • Vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) infections.

Such screening may be carried out in particular by:

  • A gynecologist
  • A primary care doctor
  • Or a midwife.

Some medical biology labs do this on your doctor's prescription.

Health testing centers can do this during a health check.

Please note

Cervical-vaginal swabs for cervical cancer screening may be taken by a pharmacist-biologist.

This test (called cervical smear) is supported at 100% by health insurance.

Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) infections is recommended for girls and boys aged 11-14 with a 2-dose regimen 5 to 13 months apart.

For those who would not have been vaccinated at 14 years of age, catch-up vaccination is recommended for young women and young men between 15 and 19 years of age inclusive: 3 doses are then required. 

This vaccine is reimbursed on medical prescription to 65%. The mutual usually intervenes to complete the refund.

The vaccine may be free of charge at some vaccination centers. As part of the national campaign to vaccinate students of 5eYes, it's free.

The vaccine protects against many of the HPVs that cause cervical cancer. Because the spectrum is not total, Pap smear screening is essential as early as age 25.

The National Cancer Institute devotes a organized cervical cancer screening page.

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the HBV virus.

Screening for HBV helps to identify and treat people with hepatitis B early and vaccinate exposed people who are not immune.

Situations in which screening is recommended

Screening is recommended if you are in theany of the following:

  • You live with someone who has chronic hepatitis B
  • You are taking risks during sexual intercourse (multipartner) or you have had a partner with HBV infection
  • You come from a country with a strong endemic (Africa, South-East Asia) where you have stayed
  • You are using or have used intravenous or intranasal drugs
  • You have a work activity at risk (in direct contact with patients or with body fluids)
  • You made a tattoo or a piercing with questionable hygiene rules
  • You have a medical situation at risk (transfusions, dialysis, organ transplants...)
  • You should receive monoclonal antibody therapy
  • You are or have been in prison, in a psychiatric institution
  • You are HIV positive or HCV (hepatitis C) positive
  • You have or have just had a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
  • You're pregnant.

FYI  

HBV screening is obligatory during pregnancy.

Screening techniques

Blood sampling or rapid orientation testing (Trod) may be done.

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By blood test

Screening for hepatitis B is done with a simple blood test, on medical prescription.

You don't have to be on an empty stomach.

By rapid biological orientation test (Trod)

Screening can also be done with a rapid biological orientation test (Trod).

The Trod shall bear the CE marking. It is carried out on blood with all its constituents, serum and plasma, using a reagent which detects infection.

Data subjects

The persons concerned by a Trod are, in particular:

  • Originating in high and medium endemic areas
  • Those who use or have used psychoactive substances
  • Already infected with HIV or HCV and not under medical supervision
  • Detained or detained
  • In prostitution
  • In a precarious situation
  • Multi-partner (at least 2 partners per year)
  • Far from the treatments.
Test Result

If positive test, the person concerned shall be systematically referred, or even accompanied if necessary, to a professional or a body for the purpose of carrying out a biological diagnosis.

In case of negative test, the person tested shall be informed of the need to interpret this result with caution and of the possibility of carrying out a biological diagnosis, in particular in case of a recent risk of transmission.

Locations for screening

The location for screening may depend on the screening technique used.

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Medical testing laboratory

Screening can be done in a public or private medical testing laboratory.

One ordinance of the doctor is necessary. However, if you are under 26 years of age, you can ask, without prescription and free of charge, screening in a medical biology laboratory.

Establishments capable of conducting a Trod

If they have permission to practice Trods, you can surrender for free in particular in one of the following establishments:

  • Associative structures involved in the prevention of health or the reduction of risks and harm associated with the consumption of psychoactive substances
  • Centers for care, support and prevention in addictology (CSAPA)
  • Reception and support centers for the reduction of risks for drug users (CAARUD)
  • Therapeutic Coordination Apartments (ACT)
  • Health care beds
  • Nursing beds
  • Family Planning or Education Centers (FPEC)
  • Family information, counseling or counseling establishments (EICCF).

A health care practitioner can help guide you to one of these facilities.

Other places

Testing can also be done anonymously and free of charge at an anonymous free testing center (ADC).

It can also be done in a center for information, screening and diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (Ciddist), of which hepatitis B is a part.

The list of CDAGs is not circulated. You can consult at an AIDS screening center.

Please note

For any questions, you can get closer to Hepatitis info service.

Who shall I contact

  • Hepatitis Info Service

    Anonymous information, advice and advice on hepatitis. The service can refer to specialized legal or medical training professionals for support and follow-up. 

    By telephone

    From the UK: 0 800 845 800 (Call and free service, from a landline or mobile phone. This call is anonymous and confidential)

    From the foreigner: 00 33 1 41 83 42 78 (cost of the call to be borne by the appellant)

    8am to 11pm, 7 days a week

    By E-mail

    Access to contact form

    By livechat

    By connecting to the opening hours: 9am to 9pm

    https://www.hepatites-info-service.org/

Screening for chronic hepatitis C is established by blood test. It is recommended for some people. If positive, medical follow-up and prevention of transmission HCV virus are indispensable. A Rapid Diagnostic Referral Test or TROD hepatitis C is available for immediate screening.

People affected by screening

You should be tested for hepatitis C if before 1992 you had any of the following:

  • You have undergone major surgery (cardiac, vascular, cerebral, digestive, pulmonary, gynecobstetric, spinal, hip or knee prosthesis...)
  • You had a resuscitation trip
  • You had a difficult delivery
  • You had a bleeding digestive tract
  • You have had care at birth, in neonatology or in pediatrics (very premature, serious neonatal disease, exchange transfusion)
  • You have had a tissue, cell or organ transplant
  • You've had a blood transfusion.

You should also be tested for HCV if you have any of the following:

  • You are on haemodialysis
  • You have used, even once in your life and even a long time ago, an intravenous or pernasal drug (with the use of a straw)
  • You are a child born to an HCV carrier
  • You are a sexual partner of people with hepatitis C
  • You are a man who has had sex with men
  • You are a family member of someone with hepatitis C
  • You are incarcerated or have been incarcerated (due to sharing of sharp objects, addictive practices)
  • You have or have had a tattoo, piercing, mesotherapy or acupuncture, without the use of personal or single use equipment
  • You have received care or have spent several years in countries with a high prevalence of HCV (Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, South America)
  • Your blood level of alanine transferase (ALT) is abnormally high and has no known cause
  • You are HIV positive or HBV (hepatitis B) positive
  • You are a healthcare professional and have been accidentally exposed to blood.

Techniques for getting tested

A blood sample or a rapid laboratory orientation test (Trod) may be done.

By blood test
Establishments

Screening is possible in all medical testing laboratories, public or private on medical prescription.

Screening can also be done for free in a CeGIDD: Free Information, Testing and Diagnosis Center for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Who shall I contact

  • Hepatitis Info Service

    Anonymous information, advice and advice on hepatitis. The service can refer to specialized legal or medical training professionals for support and follow-up. 

    By telephone

    From the UK: 0 800 845 800 (Call and free service, from a landline or mobile phone. This call is anonymous and confidential)

    From the foreigner: 00 33 1 41 83 42 78 (cost of the call to be borne by the appellant)

    8am to 11pm, 7 days a week

    By E-mail

    Access to contact form

    By livechat

    By connecting to the opening hours: 9am to 9pm

    https://www.hepatites-info-service.org/

If positive test

A positive test means that the person has been in contact with HCV. It does not tell whether or not the virus has been removed from the body.

If a positive result is obtained, serologic testing with a new test is required, and if a new test is positive, HCV RNA testing is required.

If both tests are positive, it means that the virus is still present in the body.

By a rapid biological orientation test (Trod)
Establishments

If they have permission to practice Trods, you can surrender for free in particular in one of the following establishments:

  • Associative structures involved in the prevention of health or the reduction of risks and harm associated with the consumption of psychoactive substances
  • Centers for care, support and prevention in addictology (CSAPA)
  • Reception and support centers for the reduction of risks for drug users (CAARUD)
  • Therapeutic Coordination Apartments (ACT)
  • Health care beds
  • Nursing beds
  • Family Planning or Education Centers (FPEC)
  • Family information, counseling or counseling establishments (EICCF).

Please note

a health care practitioner can help guide you to one of these facilities.

Priority Audience 

Those eligible to receive priority benefits from the Trod include:

  • People who use or have used psychoactive substances
  • Persons from areas of high prevalence
  • Persons detained or formerly detained
  • People living with HIV
  • People with at least one other risk factor (previous transfusion, precarious situation, traumatic sexual practices, tattooing or piercing...).
Test Result

If the test is negative: the person being tested shall be informed of the need to interpret this result with caution and of the possibility of carrying out a biological diagnosis, in particular in case of a recent risk of transmission of the virus.

If the tis positive: the person concerned shall be systematically referred, or if necessary accompanied, by a doctor, a health establishment or a health service for the purpose of carrying out a biological diagnosis by a medical laboratory.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites and transmitted sexually.

Formerly known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), there are more than 30. The most common are

  • Gonococcal gonorrhea
  • Chlamydiosis (chronic inflammation of the genital tract)
  • Hepatitis B (HBV virus)
  • Genital herpes
  • Genital condylomas (genital warts)
  • Syphilis
  • AIDS (HIV) ...

STIs are very easily transmitted and there are not always visible signs.

Screening tells you whether you are infected or not. Once a diagnosis is made, measures to prevent transmission are needed. Early treatment is instituted when possible.

People affected by screening

Anyone can get tested.

Screening for STIS is obligatory during pregnancy.

Techniques and places to get tested

Your general practitioner or gynecologist may advise you and prescribe a STI test.

Depending on the STI, different types of tests can be used for screening and diagnosis:

  • Physical Examination of the Genitals
  • Local sampling or cultures
  • Blood test.

Screening for STIs is possible in several settings:

  • Public or private laboratories
  • Free information, screening and diagnostic centers (IFSDCs).

CeGIDDs are made up of anonymous and free screening centers (CDAGs) and information, screening and diagnosis centers for STIs (CIDDISTs).

Please note

If you are under 26 years of age, the screening, carried out at your request in a medical biology laboratory, is free of charge and without prescription for infections with:

  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae
  • Chlamydia trachomatis.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Without early treatment, the disease becomes chronic, and the risk of transmission increases. She's very contagious.

Screening can be done with blood tests or with a rapid laboratory orientation test (Trod).

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By blood test

A blood test may be done:

  • In a public or private laboratory
  • In a free information, screening and diagnostic center (CEGIDD)
  • In a sexual health center (ex-family planning and education center)
  • Within a permanent access to health care for people in precarious situations (PASS).

Please note

If you are under 26 years of age, screening, carried out at your request in a medical biology laboratory, is free of charge and without prescription.

By a rapid biological orientation test (Trod)

You can surrender for free in particular in one of the following establishments:

  • Associative structures involved in the prevention of health or the reduction of risks and harm associated with the consumption of psychoactive substances
  • Centers for care, support and prevention in addictology (CSAPA)
  • Reception and support centers for the reduction of risks for drug users (CAARUD)
  • Therapeutic Coordination Apartments (ACT)
  • Health care beds
  • Nursing beds
  • Family Planning or Education Centers (FPEC)
  • Family information, counseling or counseling establishments (EICCF).
The test result is positive

You are oriented and, if necessary, accompanied to one or more structures allowing:

  • Conducting medical biology tests
  • And therapeutic management.
The test result is negative

You are informed:

  • Limitations related to the interpretation of the test result
  • And the possibility of carrying out a medical biology examination.

Lead poisoning is lead poisoning.

Lead is present in housing built before 1949. The paints used at the time contain lead. Humidity promotes the degradation of these paints and the spread of lead.

Lead has toxic effects on the bodyHowever, even in low doses, especially in the nervous system, bone marrow, and kidneys.

The presence of lead in the body is measured by the level of lead in the blood (lead levels).

FYI  

lead poisoning is one of the diseases to be reported to the Regional Health Agency (RHA) by doctors.

People affected by screening

The pregnant women and children are particularly affected by lead poisoning.

Lead is breathed in, swallowed, or transferred across the placenta in a pregnant woman.

Lead enters the body through the respiratory and digestive tracts and has harmful effects, especially in children. It can cause reversible disorders (anemia, digestive disorders), but also irreversible (mental and/or psychomotor retardation) when the nervous system is affected.

Screening technique

If you have any risk factors for lead exposure, please talk to your treating doctor, who will offer you a screening by measuring the blood lead level.

Support

Screening is managed at 100% social security for children (0-18 years) and pregnant women.

Osteoporosis is a diffuse skeletal disease characterized by decreased bone density and alterations in bone microarchitecture.

Techniques and places to get tested

Osteodensitometry is the test that measures bone mineral density. This measurement is done on two parts of the body: the spine and the neck of the femur.

The bone is exposed to a very small amount of X-rays, the denser it is, the more X-rays it absorbs.

This examination shall be carried out in a radiology room.

Support

Postmenopausal woman

Osteodensitometry is done at 70% (on the basis of a tariff fixed at €39.96), on a prescription from a doctor.

For a 1er examination in postmenopausal women with risk factors, such as

  • Previous injury-free femoral neck fracture in a relative of 1er degree
  • Body mass index less than 19 kg/m2
  • Premature menopause (before age 40)
  • History of corticosteroids for more than 3 consecutive months.

For a 2e examination, in the following cases:

  • Discontinuation of osteoporosis therapy, except early discontinuation due to adverse effect, in postmenopausal women
  • 3 to 5 years after 1re bone densitometry as new risk factors emerge. When treatment has not been started after 1re bone densitometry showing normal value or osteopenia (decreased bone density, intermediate stage before osteoporosis).

FYI  

if you are taking HRT, osteoporosis prevention is already ensured by this treatment.

Woman at risk

Osteodensitometry is done at 70% (on the basis of a tariff fixed at €39.96), on medical prescription, for people with medical risk factors for osteoporosis, such as:

  • Cases of disease or treatment that could potentially induce osteoporosis (e.g., untreated progressive hyperthyroidism or corticosteroids > 3 months)
  • A history of fracture without major trauma as diagnosed by x-ray.

Newborn screening (3 days) seeks Diseases in children and also aims to to screen for deafness permanent.

Please note

The number of diseases screened is likely to increase based on the advice of the High Health Authority

Desired disorders are rare, but they can be serious if not treated as early as 1ers child's life days.

Example :

Screening for phenylketonuria at birth helps prevent disability by monitoring.

This newborn screening is open for free for all newborns.

Parental consent is sought.

FYI  

The medical biology tests in the newborn screening program are done on a sample of blood taken 48 hours after birth. If not, blood sampling is done 48 to 72 hours after birth and, if not possible, after 72 hours after birth.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Health Info Rights

    A telephone line created by a collective of user associations to provide legal or social information related to health

    By telephone

    01 53 62 40 30

    Price of a local call

    Open Service:

    • mondays, wednesdays and fridays from 2pm to 6pm
    • tuesdays and thursdays from 2pm to 8pm

    By Form

    You can also ask your question by completing the contact form ;

    From this form, you can request to be called back.

  • Sida Info Service

    Aids information, orientation, listening. Respect for anonymity. Direct telephone referral to specialists (lawyers, medical staff) from certain times.

    By telephone

     0800 840 800

    Free call and service from landline or mobile phone

    24/7

    From foreigner: 00 33 1 41 83 42 77 (cost of call to be borne by the appellant)

    By E-mail

    Access to contact form