A free HIV home-testing kit has been launched across England as the latest figures show 18,100 people in the UK are unaware they have the infection.
The test, which can be ordered online, uses a small droplet of blood that is sent to a laboratory.
Public Health England (PHE) is urging more people to check their HIV status.
It says four in 10 people in the UK are diagnosed late - meaning treatment may be less effective and the disease can be spread unwittingly.
'Do-it-yourself'
Official figures for 2014 show 103,700 people have HIV in the UK.
And though rates are falling overall, PHE warns it is still a growing problem in certain communities.
Experts say improved treatment means that if people are diagnosed early on, they can have a life-expectancy that almost matches those who are HIV free.
Prof Kevin Fenton, at PHE, added: "With national HIV-testing week approaching, I would encourage all those at higher risk of HIV, such as men who have sex with men or people from black African communities, to seriously consider testing, especially as they are now able to order a home sampling kit free online."
The kit involves a finger-prick blood test that is sent off to be analysed. Three to five days later, people are contacted with results.
If the test suggests HIV is likely, patients are asked to attend a sexual health clinic for a confirmatory check.
The free testwill be available to anyone in England until 1 January 2016.
After this, local authorities will have to make individual decisions regarding funds. Some have already been attempting trials of other free home-tests.
-BBC
Nice 1 it would reduce the scare of going all the way to the hospital and a stranger knowing your status before you.
ReplyDeleteNice one
ReplyDeleteOkay oh...
ReplyDeleteI no fit shout...
Very interesting
ReplyDeleteWaste of time. Is it not better for them to just go to the lab instead of pricking themselves and mailing the sample to the lab?
ReplyDeleteThe constant reference to people from black African communities is gradually amounting to stigmatization o, they should stop that nonsense.
ReplyDeleteAfricans need dis free text kit pass!
ReplyDeleteEspecially my south African peepz.
Good development..... So people from black African communities are at higher risk of HIV..issorai!
ReplyDeleteGreat news
ReplyDeleteI would encourage those at higher risk contacting HIV such as men who av sex with men and OR PEOPLE FROM BLACK AFRICAN COMMUNITIES to seriously consider testing". Thunder wll fire dat ur mouth u use in saying such wat rubbish. Wtf do u tink of ursef sef?
ReplyDeleteCongrats to this HIV home test kit. I think it will save people lots of stress when you go to the lab to get tested.
ReplyDeleteMay God help everyone.
Stella, I see that Charlie Sheen's HIV revelation really got to you. You just wake up with HIV posts left, right and centre.
ReplyDeleteSent to a lab to be analysed and result gotten 5days later yet they call it do it ur self kit. Hahaha ds people no well sha.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to d more conventional and easy to use strip where it's being read off after some minutes? Aren't those more obtainable?
Well...probably due to its false positive or false negative results,it isn't used as a standardised test kit.
That's cool
ReplyDeleteThe life of Aldorable Fashion and beauty blog
"Oyibo bu agbara"always making things easy for their people
ReplyDeleteNa wa o! Hiv up n down.
ReplyDeleteGood one
ReplyDeleteOk.
ReplyDeleteI'm HIV NEGATIVE.
Una nko?
www.ckjacob.com
That's good
ReplyDeleteGood initiative
ReplyDeleteit should be spread to other countries
used one out here, but it's a saliva swab kit about 75usd . get tested guys, that way, you live happily and healthy.
ReplyDeleteWow
ReplyDeleteGreat development.
They should launch it nigeria also.
End time kit
ReplyDeleteI heard there is something like this in Nigeria already
ReplyDeleteYes. For a while now.
DeleteYes there is, and there's no need of sending it to the lab.It shows you right there and then what your status is.
Deletea.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said...
ReplyDelete.
Nna this makes alot of sense though no doubt... Things are fast growing though no doubt.... #NowPlaying>> all i want: lamboginny....
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
There's always been an HIV kit, just like pregnancy kit.It's in most pharmacies across the country. I know cuz I use it.
ReplyDeleteIs been in Nigeria for a while now
ReplyDeleteHIV kit is in nigeria already. I use it.
ReplyDeleteI use it and I vlhave used it is different ohhh, anyway what's my own dre
ReplyDeleteI use it and I have used it, is different ohhh, anyway what's my own dre
ReplyDelete