A Rapid HIV Testing Kit For Home

MELBOURNE: A rapid HIV testing kit for home use has been announced for sale in Australia. News of the testing kit, which is claimed to allow people to test themselves for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI), was made in Melbourne and Sydney newspapers last week. The report said the yet to be named testing kit may be offered for sale in local service stations and night clubs. The kit is currently being reviewed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the report claims the kit was expected to be approved by the end of October. A spokesperson for the overseas manufactured kit said it is 99.8 per cent accurate and could test for 15 STIs, including HIV. A positive test with the kit would need to be confirmed with a hospital test, the spokesperson said. If approved the company intend to make the testing kits available at pharmacies, truck stops, public toilets, vending machines and online. The spokesperson said the kit will be marketed with condoms which “makes it more discreet”. In Australia HIV testing is currently available as a clinical service by visiting a doctor or sexual health clinic. Melbourne’s Burnet Institute recently completed a review of rapid HIV testing devices and procedures currently in use overseas in preparation for the introduction of rapid testing in Australia. That report recommended the use of rapid testing in clinical settings such as clinics or specialised sexual health centres. Matt Dixon, executive director of the Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre (VAC/GMHC), told MCV he was aware there is a rapid ... More »