The importance of HIV testing week
Last week, 9-15 February, National HIV Testing Week encouraged people across England to test for HIV.
With the right interventions we can strive for no new HIV transmissions and an end to AIDS related deaths.
Testing is free and confidential. It’s also the only way to know for certain whether you have HIV, and it’s important because people can live with the virus for many years without any symptoms
What is HIV?
HIV stands for ‘human immunodeficiency virus’. It is an infection caused by a virus that attacks the body's immune system. In the UK, it is most commonly transmitted by having anal or vaginal sex without a condom.
‘Immunodeficiency’ refers to the damage caused to your immune system by the virus. Your immune system exists to fight infections and diseases. HIV makes your immune system weaker, so it is less able to protect you from illness and keep you well.
HIV can be treated by taking antiretroviral medication. Though it cannot be completely cured, effective treatment means you can live a long healthy life.
National guidelines recommend that people who are at risk of HIV infection should test regularly. A late diagnosis of HIV means the virus has had more time to weaken your immune system. An early diagnosis allows you to start treatment early.
Free HIV testing and treatment is available from the NHS to anyone in the UK.
Undetectable equals untransmittable
Individuals with HIV who take antiretroviral therapy (ART) and have achieved and maintained an undetectable viral load cannot sexually transmit the virus to others.
If you start treatment early, after a few months you should have the virus under control. This means that you cannot transmit HIV to other people through sexual contact.
Visit a sexual health clinic
If you think you have been exposed to the HIV virus in the last 72 hours it is important to visit a sexual health clinic.
Staff at the clinic should be able to offer you emergency HIV medicine, which may stop you getting infected.
You can get emergency HIV medicine from your nearest A&E.
Free at home HIV Tests
Free HIV test kits are available to anyone over 16 that lives in England. Choose from a lab test (with optional syphilis test) and get results by text, or a rapid self-test you can do yourself.
