Medical practice

Home testing for HIV 'is now a reality'

“US approves first over-the-counter HIV home-use test,” BBC News has reported, adding that the new test could go on sale in the US “within months”. The BBC said that 1.2 million people in the US are estimated to be living with HIV infection, with about 50,000 new HIV infections being diagnosed every year. About one in five HIV-positive people do not know they are infected with it, and may pass on the virus unknowingly.

In the UK, current estimates suggest that 91,500 people were living with HIV at the end of 2010, with around 6,000-7,000 new HIV infections diagnosed in that year.

The test is a potentially exciting development as it provides an opportunity to increase the number of people who report for HIV testing (existing testing involve going to a clinic and having blood tests, which can put many people off).

The availability of convenient home-testing may encourage more people who think they may be infected to take a test. It is important to stress that, although it performs well, the test is not 100% accurate. A positive test result does not mean that the person definitely has HIV and the results need to be confirmed through further laboratory testing by healthcare professionals. A negative result does not mean that the person is definitely clear, and they may need to be re-tested at a later stage.

What is the home HIV test?

The test is called the OraQuick In-Home HIV test, and is made by the US company OraSure. It is the first over-the-counter, self-administered HIV test to be approved by the US regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The test is now licensed to be sold to anyone aged 17 and older in shops or online in the US, although the manufacturer has yet to make it available or set a price.

The test works by detecting antibodies to the HIV virus. To do the test, a person takes a swab of their upper and lower gums and places this in a tube with a developer liquid for 20 to 40 minutes. If two lines then appear on the test stick, this indicates a positive test result. It means that antibodies against HIV were detected and the virus may be present. If only one line appears, the test result is negative.

The test is a preliminary (screening) test and results must be confirmed through follow-up testing by healthcare professionals. This is because no test is perfect, and the test may have both false-positive and false-negative results. In the US, OraQuick Consumer Support Centre will be available by telephone, with counsellors available 24 hours a day to answer questions and provide local referrals for follow-up testing and care.

What does the home HIV test cost?

The BBC reported that the cost of the test has not yet been confirmed. However, the manufacturer has said it will be less than $60 USD (about £38).

Who is the home HIV test aimed at?

The test is aimed at people who would not otherwise have an HIV test, such as those who are reluctant to go to their doctor to be tested. Some of these people may test positive for the disease using the home test, and it is hoped this result will encourage them to seek appropriate medical care and therefore reduce transmission of the disease.

How well does the home test pick up people with HIV?

Studies have shown that the test correctly identified 92% of people who were carrying the HIV virus. This means that 8% (about 1 in 12 people) with the virus were missed by the test. The FDA stresses that testing negative does not mean that a person definitely does not have HIV. It also says that the test is not reliable for detecting HIV infection in the first three months after acquiring it, and that even after this it does not pick up 100% of infections.

The FDA says that people who engage in behaviours that put them at increased risk of getting HIV, such as having unprotected sex with new partners or injecting illegal drugs, should be re-tested for HIV on a regular basis.

For more information, read Coping with a positive HIV diagnosis.

How well does the test rule out HIV?

Studies showed that 99.98% of people who did not have the virus had the correct negative test result. This means that 0.02% (or about one in 5,000 people) without HIV falsely tested positive. This illustrates that people who have a positive test still need to go to their healthcare provider for the diagnosis to be confirmed with further tests.

How does this affect you?

As yet the test has only been approved in the US and will be available to buy in US stores and online to US consumers. It is not yet available in the UK and it is still uncertain when (or if) it will be. The manufacturers would need to comply with UK and EU healthcare regulators’ requirements before they could sell their tests in the UK. However, you can get an HIV test in the UK at any of the following:

Remember, if you test positive for HIV, treatment is available.

How can you reduce the risk of catching HIV?

HIV is a blood-borne virus that is most commonly spread through unprotected sex (including vaginal, oral and anal sex) or sharing needles. The main way of preventing HIV is to avoid activities that put you at risk.


NHS Attribution