A BERKSHIRE charity is encouraging residents to know their HIV status and is making testing easier than ever.
Thames Valley Positive Support will continue to offer free community testing around Reading where members of the public can find out their status following its testing programme during HIV Testing Week last month.
HIV testing is simpler and faster than ever, especially for those who visit the community testing programmes in person.
Those testing will be given a short questionnaire about their recent sexual history and some personal circumstances relevant to the testing procedure.
TVPS is not part of the NHS, and as such does not share any of these details with any other health professionals.
A small pinprick is made on the side of one finger, which is almost entirely painless and lasts for less than half a second.
Results are ready within just a few minutes, delivered privately and in person.
TVPS has made attending in person as easy and discreet as possible, and strives to make sure that those getting tested can leave discreetly, without needing to walk back through waiting rooms.
It also provides postal testing and a full at-home testing kit which can be completed however suits the patient.
Testing is important for HIV because it can be present for a long time without any symptoms.
Testing is the only way to be certain of your HIV status and means that those affected can begin treatment, stay healthy, and avoid passing it to others.
Jessica Harding, deputy CEO of TVPS, said: “It’s incredibly important, both to know your status, and then to be able to get on medication and come down to being undetectable.
“You’re not just looking after yourself and your own health, but you’re looking after everyone else’s health as well, because you can’t pass HIV on [when undetectable.]
“It’s vital that everyone tests, and it’s responsible; the responsibility shouldn’t just be on positive people, It should be on everybody at looking at what their HIV status is.”
She explained that Covid led to people becoming more comfortable with general testing procedures: “People find that’s part of normality now, and this is just another part of our health which needs to be taken care of.”
“We see lots of people across the board, but we have had unfortunate comments online of some people asking ‘why would I test, I’m not gay and I don’t use needles.’
“We’re seeing wide demographics testing– and literally anyone can be affected by HIV.”
She continued: “We’ve just introduced a new element of testing, so people can either come into the community, as some like to be able to ask questions and speak to somebody when they do.
“For some, that’s their worst nightmare, they want to do it at home– so we’re still offering postal testing.”
Postal testing sees patients collecting samples at home which are sent off for testing elsewhere, and then they are sent their results.
“But we’re offering full home testing now- it’s the same test, but you can do it and get the results in your own home, with a fact sheet explaining simply what to do.
“It’s so easy that there isn’t an excuse any more.”
She also thanked the public health teams in Reading, Wokingham, and across Berkshire: “They have spearheaded this and it was sorely needed.
“It’s been a smashing success.”
Thames Valley Positive Support is carrying out more community testing for around six weeks.
For about where to get access to free testing available by contacting TVPS via email at office@tvps.org.uk, by calling 0162 8603 400, or by Whatsapp message to 0785 3951 836.
For more information, visit: www.tvps.org.uk/contact-us/
