HIV kits trial in Plymouth first of its kind
Sexual health doctors in Plymouth have been successful in securing more than £21,000 to launch a brand new service for home HIV testing.
Dr Rachel Challenor and Dr Zoe Warwick, Consultants in Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM), will use the money from NHS England’s Regional Innovation Fund, to run a trial over one to two years from the GU clinic at Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital. This is the first trial of its kind. No other organisation is currently providing this type of testing.
Patients will be able to request a home HIV testing oral kit to be posted out to them via a link on the clinic’s website. The aim of this is to reach people who have not tested before, which will result in prevention of transmission to others and also prevention of late diagnosis, both resulting in better patient care and huge cost savings for the trust.
Home testing has been shown to appeal to those who have not tested for HIV before.
Dr Challenor said: “We believe that offering a free web based service for home HIV testing using oral sampling will improve testing in people who have not wanted to access traditional testing services.
“Home testing has been piloted and is acceptable to many patients and it helps to reach an at-risk population. Oral sampling kits are available for people to buy, but at a cost, making regular testing, as recommended in some groups, unaffordable for many.”
Dr Warwick added: “The type of home testing that we want to offer means that for some people who have concerns about HIV but don’t wish to attend a clinic, can request a test without having to and test at their convenience.
“We believe the ease and convenience of testing this way will increase testing in a previously untested group of people and will encourage those who consider themselves at lower risk to test. Information on testing, sexual health and how to access support will be available on the website.”
The GU clinic already provide traditional access to HIV testing locally and have a website that people interested in HIV testing might want to access.
Dr Warwick said: “Although the test is reliable and has been approved for use, users need to understand when it might have limitations. By providing the tests we are able to support people through the testing process and understanding their results. We care for patients diagnosed with HIV so are able to ensure appropriate access to care if tests are positive and further advice if tests are negative. We strive to reduce the incidence of late HIV diagnosis.
“We also have close working relationships with other organisations currently providing HIV testing in alternative settings, such as The Eddystone Trust."
The new service will be available in time for national HIV Testing Week, 22-30 November 2014.
