Real-name HIV testing raises privacy concerns

CHENGDU - A senior health official of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region denied on Thursday a real-name HIV testing policy - which is expected to begin soon in the region - will be compulsory.

Tang Zhenzhu, director of the Guangxi disease control and prevention center, told China Daily that people taking an HIV test who refuse the real-name registry would still get a free screening, though they were strongly recommended to give their names.

Earlier this month, the online community raged as Guangxi drafted a legislation requiring personal information including ID number, name and address for HIV screening.