The first legally approved HIV self-test kit that allows people to get a result in 15 minutes at home has gone on sale in England, Scotland and Wales. Unlike other kits, these tests do not need to be sent off to a lab to get the results. It works by detecting antibodies on a small drop of blood, which are often only detectable three months after the infection is caught.
Experts warn that any positive tests must be reconfirmed at clinics. Charities hope it will reduce some of the 26,000 people estimated to have undiagnosed HIV in the UK.
An early diagnosis allows people to get treatment quickly and can prevent serious complications. And individuals successfully treated for HIV are less likely to pass the infection on. This new "do-it-yourself" test is made by company Bio Sure UK and can be bought online.
It works in a similar way to a pregnancy test, measuring levels of antibodies – proteins made in response to the virus – in a person’s blood. The device analyses a small droplet of blood, taken from the finger-tip using a lancet. Two purple lines appear if it is positive.