Ask HN: Rate This Startup Idea - VerifyMyHIV.com
The idea is to provide free HIV tests to sex-workers in clinics located in red-light areas. The result is given verbally, immediately. None of the workers personal details are recorded, except a clear photograph is taken. The worker is provided with two passwords. One password can be given to the worker's customers who can go online to verify the results for a fee (date of test, photograph, result). The other password can be used by the worker if they wish to delete the results.
I'm thinking of this idea in the context of Pattaya, Thailand. There are tens of thousands of sex-workers, male, female and transgendered, in a small geographical area. Many are not tested on a regular basis and don't have a way to reliably prove their HIV status. HIV tests are available locally for about $10 - this can be a lot. Some don't want to know their HIV status. Anecdotally, some work even though they know they are HIV+.
I'm hoping it is a sustainable business model and will help to cut down on new HIV infections. Ideally it would become standard to verify HIV status, and customers would start to provide verification of their own status to sex-workers. It might also be feasible for users to self publish HIV negative status on gay dating websites.
Some caveats - HIV tests can be false-negatives, especially if infection is recent.
Interested in your thoughts on feasibility, problems, pitfalls, privacy issues, medical issues, moral and ethical issues, legal issues, technical issues and anything else really.
n.b. I don't own that domain name, will call it something else.