Friday, 18th November 2016
National HIV Testing Week (NHTW) promotes HIV testing to gay and bisexual men and black African men and women. These groups make up seven out of 10 people in the UK living with HIV.
However, the number of people being diagnosed late with HIV is increasing, and is an issue within Leicester. Late diagnosis is down to people either never testing for HIV or not testing on a regular basis, both of which could dramatically decreased late diagnosis and prevent people from getting ill and developing AIDS.
But what's stopping people from testing for HIV?
I don't know where to get a HIV test from
I can't afford to get a HIV test done
I haven't got the time to have a HIV test
I'm afraid of what the result might be
I don't want to wait for days for a result
I know I haven't got HIV without having a test...
All of these reasons are ones that people may use and have used to prevent themselves from getting a HIV test done. So we're here to set the record straight and to encourage people to know their HIV status, and challenge some of those myths out there around HIV testing.
1. I don't know where to get a HIV test from
Testing for HIV has never been so accessible as it is today.
You can get a HIV test done at your local GP practice. You get also get a HIV test done at the sexual health service.
Don't want to get tested in a medical setting? You can get tested at a number of volutary community sector organisation, including right here at Trade and also LASS.
Don't want to come face to face with someone? You can order a HIV home sampling kit online or HIV home testing kit to be delivered right to your front door, to do yourself in the comfort of your own home.
2. I can't afford to get a HIV test done.
If you test in any medical setting, be it your local GP practice or sexual health service, HIV testing is completely free.
If you test at a voluntary community sector organisation, if you are eligible, this HIV testing is completely free.
If you order a HIV home sampling kit online, if you are eligible, this HIV test is completely free.
The only HIV test that you will be charged for is a HIV home testing kit.
3. I haven't got the time to have a HIV test
With the range of HIV tests available, in a number of settings, including from your own home, a HIV test can be done at any time.
There are a number of tests which are available now, which don't require a syringe needle to take blood from you. In fact, you don't have to see any kind of needle at all. For point-of-care testing, such as at voluntary community sector organisations, a single-use lancet is used to draw a small amount of blood from your finger, with no needle in sight.
5. I'm afraid of what the result might be.
It is always best to know your HIV status rather than ignoring what it might or might not be. The sooner you know your HIV status, the sooner you can take action and take the next steps forward to treatment or prevention.
Also, if you test with Trade, LASS or local sexual health services, you can be guaranteed to be provided with support, regardless of what the result may be. Even if you complete a HIV home sampling of HIV home testing kit, you can always access Trade or LASS for additional support.
6. I don't want to wait for days for a result
With point-of-care testing and HIV home testing, you can get an HIV result in a matter of minutes, so you don't have to wait for too long to know your status.
Even if you aren't part of a high risk community, such as men who have sex with men or the African community, but are sexually active and have ever had condomless sex at any point, then you could potentially be at risk.
8. I know I haven't got HIV without having a test...
If you have had sex, shared needles for recreational drugs, or come from a high risk community, the ONLY way of finding out your HIV status is by having a HIV test. There is no other way of knowing if you don't have HIV without having a HIV test.
So...are you ready to say YES to test for HIV?
Check out the extra clinic times we have over National HIV Testing Week and make this your first HIV test to take action and stop the spread of HIV.
