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First nationwide HIV home test launched

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First nationwide HIV home test launched

Public Health England (PHE) has launched the first nationally available HIV home test, alongside announcing new funding for innovative HIV prevention projects.

People at higher-risk of HIV across the country can now order a HIV home-sampling test kit online, and are being encouraged to take the simple finger prick blood sample for National HIV Testing Week, which starts on 21 November 2015.

New figures released by PHE show an estimated 103,700 people in the UK were living with HIV in 2014, with around 17 per cent (18,100) unaware and at risk of unknowingly passing on the virus to others. Among men who have sex with men (MSM), 6,500 remain unaware of their HIV infection, as do a further 3,900 men and women from black African communities.

Public Health Minister Jane Ellison said: "We have made great strides in HIV treatment, and those people speaking out about their condition are helping reduce the stigma around it. But until HIV is a thing of the past, there is more to do and we need to be bold.

"I want today’s launch of the first National HIV Home Sampling service to encourage people at risk to find out their HIV status, using our free kits, so they can get the best care for themselves and partners. Our Innovation Fund is also identifying new ideas to tackle the problem. I hope that all those at risk will take the opportunity to get tested and help us halve new HIV infections by 2020."

The kits can be ordered via test.hiv

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