Date Published: 12 September 2007

Terrence Higgins Trust pushes for home HIV test kits to be made available in UK

The Terence Higgins Trust (THT) is a UK charity that provides advice and support about HIV and sexual health more generally. THT has a lot of experience of working with all kinds of young people. Visit their website for advice about safe sex and sexual health.

Terrence Higgins Trust is urging the Government to change the law to let people buy and use home test kits for HIV. This is just one of '25 Things' that THT is asking the Government to do in its 25th anniversary year.

Approximately a third of people with HIV in the UK are currently undiagnosed and it's essential this is reduced. Currently, some people fail to test for HIV because they don't want to go to a clinic, either because of stigma, long waiting times or restricted opening hours. Having a reliable, regulated kit available in the UK should reduce both undiagnosed infection and onward transmission of HIV, as HIV is often passed on by people who don't know they have it.

Paul Ward, Deputy Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust said

" Use of unreliable, unregulated kits from the internet is increasing, so we need to offer a safe alternative. People can test at home for pregnancy and many other sexually transmitted infections. It's time that they had the same safe choice for HIV. "

Kits currently sold on the internet for home testing are not subject to any form of UK quality control, nor do they carry information about sources of support in the UK. Reforming the HIV testing kits and services regulations would allow the Government to ensure proper quality control and management of home testing in the UK.

Terrence Higgins Trust has produced '25 Things' a publication which sets out 25 points which THT would like the Government to take action on. 'Legalise and regulate home testing for HIV' is one of these points.

News is included on the IvyRose website to inform visitors about current health issues, but not to endorse any particular view or activity. Any views expressed in the article above are not necessarily those of IvyRose Ltd.. At least some of the material in this news item was released by the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) on or about 12 September 2007.