This week is National HIV Testing Week and alongside MPs from across Parliament I have been supporting the Terence Higgins Trust in their aim to normalise HIV testing. There remains a real problem in encouraging women to come forward for testing, and I have had my annual HIV test, proving it is both quick and easy!
HIV testing levels have still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with testing rates 20% lower in 2021 than in 2019. This has been driven by a 22% drop in testing among women and a significant 41% drop in testing amongst heterosexual men. HIV Testing Week aims to promote regular testing, particularly amongst groups most affected by HIV in England, including gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men and Black African and Black Caribbean communities.
For the first time this year, as well as the option to order an HIV self-sampling kit (taking a blood sample to be sent to a lab), everyone can order a rapid self-test kit (with results in 15 minutes). National HIV Testing Week is delivered as part of the National HIV Prevention Programme – on behalf of the Department for Health and Social Care. This is the only time when postal HIV testing is available freely across the country centrally. Throughout the year, testing options vary across the country, but there has been an increase in postal testing options
The continuation of a national HIV prevention programme beyond 2024, including National HIV Testing Week, will be vital for meeting the government’s target to end new cases of HIV by 2030. In 2021, 46% of people newly diagnosed for the first time in England were diagnosed late. Those diagnoses late are at greater risk of poor health outcomes and onward transmission. People of Black African ethnicity are most likely to be diagnosed with HIV late (55% in 2021). Women are also more likely to be diagnosed late (50% in 2021). National HIV Testing Guidelines from BHIVA, BASHH and BIA recommend that everyone should be offered an HIV test on first attendance at a sexual health service. However in 2021, 38% of people were not offered an HIV test. This includes high numbers in population groups at high risk of exposure to HIV:
• 37% of heterosexual and bisexual Black African women
• More than a quarter (27%) of heterosexual Black African men
• 50% of all women aged 65, despite this age group being most at risk of poor health outcomes from a late diagnoses