Free DIY HIV home testing kit offered in England

Free HIV tests that can be undertaken at home are being offered this week to people in England, as part of a government drive to improve diagnosis, which dropped off during the Covid pandemic.

The kit gives a result within 15 minutes by testing a drop of blood from a finger prick.  A “reactive” result means HIV is possible and a clinic check is required.  If the result is negative, it means the test did not detect HIV.

Around 4,400 people in England are currently living with undiagnosed with HIV, which comes with serious health risks.  Medication can keep the virus at undetectable levels, meaning you cannot pass HIV on and your health is protected.

People can live with the virus for a long time without any symptoms and testing is the only way to know your HIV status.

Dr Alison Brown, interim head of HIV surveillance at the UK Health Security Agency, said “HIV does not discriminate, no matter your gender or sexual orientation.”

The free testing initiative coincides with National HIV Testing Week and making progress towards the government’s goal of ending new HIV cases by 2030.

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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