‘Test, Test, Test’ is the way to fight HIV
Today the All Party Parliamentary Group HIV/AIDS launches an inquiry into HIV testing in the UK.
Increased HIV testing is the only way to find the 6,700 people living undiagnosed with HIV in the UK. This was the main recommendation of the HIV Commission published two months ago. However, data released by the Terrence Higgins Trust to mark England’s National HIV Testing Week, showed just one in five people have ever tested for HIV. Interpretation of the figures shows a more troubling situation: testing among heterosexual people is just 16% while 58% of LGBTQ+ respondents.
The APPG on HIV AIDS will be conducting a root and branch look at what is happening across the UK when it comes to HIV testing – online home testing, testing in sexual health clinics and mainstreaming testing across the NHS. The inquiry will look into what works, what could be improved, and how we can ensure missed opportunities to test for HIV are a thing of the past.
If anyone is interested in providing evidence to the inquiry, they should visit our website for further details: https://www.appghivaids.org.uk/hiv-testing-inquiry
Stephen Doughty MP, Chair of the APPG on HIV/AIDS, said:
“Despite all the progress made in the fight against HIV, there is still a shockingly high number of people who remain undiagnosed and even more have never tested for the virus. We need to find all of those undiagnosed urgently if we are to prevent new infections, and that requires a redoubling of all our efforts
“Far too many people are missing out on opportunities to test for HIV. This ranges from a fear of having a test or simply not being offered a test when accessing healthcare.
“This inquiry will leave no stone unturned and ensure the missed opportunities to test for HIV are a thing of the past.”
"In 2019, over half a million eligible people were not tested for HIV in sexual health services. Over 4 in 10 people diagnosed with HIV are still diagnosed late."
Baroness Barker Vice Chair Said:
“The most recent figures show a shocking number of people not offered a HIV test – they are disproportionately women and women of colour. This must change the APPG on HIV/AIDS latest inquiry will work out why. It will inform the HIV Action Plan and ensure this does not persist. .
“With late diagnosis rates across the UK remaining stubbornly high we need to learn a simple lesson: every late diagnosis is a story of missed opportunity to test.”
Ian Green Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust said:
“Only testing will find those living undiagnosed with HIV, allow them access to treatment and will stop onward transmission of the virus. For these reasons ‘test, test, test’ was the main recommendation of the HIV Commission. The need to normalise this testing across the NHS is key – whether that be when people present at A&E, register for a GP or when the NHS is otherwise taking blood. Together we can improve online testing, it's availability in services we already use and in all the services where we need PrEP prevision to cut health inequalities and stop HIV transmission – this inquiry will do just that and is most welcome.”