Voice-online.co.uk - THE UK has passed a law allowing people to use kits to test themselves for HIV at home.
Until now, it was illegal to carry out a HIV test at home in the UK and read the results yourself.
Many would perform the tests - usually ordered online - at home and send away their results to receive a diagnosis over the phone.
At present, no test has been developed that meets European guidelines, but The Terrence Higgins Trust HIV charity said the tests could be introduced into the UK this year or in early 2015.
The trust found that 97 per cent of 915 users in its study said they would use the HIV self-sampling again. The charity said that in one weekend it received 3,000 orders for the test.
Dr Michael Brady told the BBC: "What we had not anticipated was just how popular the scheme would be, with demand very nearly outstripping supply on more than one occasion."
But he added: "It [home testing] is not for everyone, which is why it is important to have a range of options available."
There are about 100,000 people infected in the UK, including around 22,000 who have the human immunodeficiency virus but do not know they are infected.
Heather Leake Date, HIV specialist pharmacist and spokesperson for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said the tests would help reduce the risk of new HIV infections.
She said: "HIV self-testing kits may help increase diagnosis by providing more choice for people who have been at risk but are reluctant to get a test in person from existing services."
Until now, it was illegal to carry out a HIV test at home in the UK and read the results yourself.
Many would perform the tests - usually ordered online - at home and send away their results to receive a diagnosis over the phone.
At present, no test has been developed that meets European guidelines, but The Terrence Higgins Trust HIV charity said the tests could be introduced into the UK this year or in early 2015.
The trust found that 97 per cent of 915 users in its study said they would use the HIV self-sampling again. The charity said that in one weekend it received 3,000 orders for the test.
Dr Michael Brady told the BBC: "What we had not anticipated was just how popular the scheme would be, with demand very nearly outstripping supply on more than one occasion."
But he added: "It [home testing] is not for everyone, which is why it is important to have a range of options available."
There are about 100,000 people infected in the UK, including around 22,000 who have the human immunodeficiency virus but do not know they are infected.
Heather Leake Date, HIV specialist pharmacist and spokesperson for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said the tests would help reduce the risk of new HIV infections.
She said: "HIV self-testing kits may help increase diagnosis by providing more choice for people who have been at risk but are reluctant to get a test in person from existing services."
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