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. To find out more visit www.tht.org.uk

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Notes to editors:

• THT wants the Government to reform the HIV Testing Kits and Services Regulations 1992
• At the moment it is legal to use a test at home (a home sampling kit) as long as it is clinically supervised and is sent to a lab. THT would like tests to be available which offer a result direct to the person testing.
• Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing a wide range of services across England, Wales and Scotland.  The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and sexual ill health.