HIV test kits now available to buy on the high street
Superdrug says self-testing will reduce results waiting time and increase early diagnosis rates
HIV testing kits are to go on sale on the high street for the first time, in a move that should reduce waiting times for results and could help increase early diagnosis rates.
Superdrug has announced it will sell the BioSURE test, which provides a result in 15 minutes, in all of its 200 pharmacy stores in the UK, for £33.95.
BioSURE became the first legally approved self-testing kit in the UK back in 2015 but has only been available to buy online.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It works by analysing a small amount of blood from a finger-prick sample to detect the presence of HIV antibodies. Experts say that while these home-testing kits are highly accurate, positive results must be confirmed at sexual health clinics.
The health and beauty chain said offering the home-testing kit in its store would help reduce a person's waiting time between taking the test and their result, and could increase early diagnosis.
The move has been welcomed by the Terrence Higgins Trust, a British charity that campaigns about and provides services relating to HIV and sexual health, although it warned not everyone would be able to afford to buy a self-testing kit.
Free HIV testing is available on the NHS, or through sexual health clinics, some GP surgeries and charities.
The HIV virus, which attacks the immune system, “has become more manageable in recent years owing to developments in available treatments” says The Guardian, although about one in eight people living with HIV in the UK remain undiagnosed.
The BBC says “late diagnosis can have a devastating impact on health and life expectancy”.
In May, the Terrence Higgins Trust launched a six-month programme to enable people in high-risk groups to order free HIV self-testing kits.
The charity has estimated that there are 10,400 people in the UK who do not know that they are living with HIV, meaning they are not taking medication and could unknowingly be passing on the virus.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drug
Speed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
By The Week Staff Published
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policy
Speed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
By The Week Staff Published
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?
Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UK
Speed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakers
Speed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
By The Week Staff Published
-
Farmers vs. walkers: the battle over ‘Britain’s green and pleasant land’
Speed Read Updated Countryside Code tells farmers: ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Motherhood: why are we putting it off?
Speed Read Stats show around 50% of women in England and Wales now don’t have children by 30
By The Week Staff Published
-
Anti-Semitism in America: a case of double standards?
Speed Read Officials were strikingly reluctant to link Texas synagogue attack to anti-Semitism
By The Week Staff Published