Ex-addict in Chengdu says HIV mix up ruined his life

A former heroin addict has accused the center for disease control in Chengdu, Sichuan province, of wrongly diagnosing him as HIV positive, thepaper.cn has reported.

Zhong Xiaowei, 54, said he tested positive after a premarital checkup in late 2008, which destroyed his relationship and left his life in tatters.

He decided to stop taking his medication in 2009, but when his condition did not worsen, he underwent another test at Sichuan University's West China Hospital on Dec 25, 2015.

The result came back negative, as did a second test a month later handled by the CDC in the city's Jinniu district, according to the report.

Chengdu CDC told thepaper.cn that in 2008 it was only qualified to give a preliminary result, and that confirmation was made by the provincial CDC, which said it has retested the original sample and received the same positive result.

The authorities said they suspect the blood sample may not belong to Zhong, as a mix up may have occurred due to the fact most HIV/AIDS patients at the time did not register with their real ID.

Zhong is reportedly planning to sue the Chengdu and Sichuan CDCs for compensation.