Over 20,000 self-testing and self-sampling kits will be made available in England to help end HIV transmissions by 2030, the government has announced.
The packs are part of a public health campaign to end virus transmissions in England by 2030 and backed by £1.5 million in government funding.
To mark National HIV Testing Week, the government has also announced it will extend the national HIV prevention programme – HIV Prevention England – by a year.
A new HIV action plan is expected from the government later this year.
Last November, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced £27 million to extend NHS England’s opt-out testing programme in emergency departments. The initiative means all blood tests in emergency departments are automatically tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C unless a patient opts out.
The announcement of 20,000 self-testing kits comes as a YouGov poll finds more than 80% of adults in England are unaware it is possible to test for the virus at home. However, when prompted as an option, 44% of people said at-home testing would be their preferred way to find out their HIV status.
Since their introduction, self-testing kits at home have become especially popular among women and some ethnic minorities who are less likely to test through their local sexual health services.
Earlier this week, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published its community testing survey results, which show that in 2023, testing in community settings – such as nightclubs, festivals and voluntary sector premises – increased by 7% compared to 2022.
The report also found nearly a quarter of all tests were reported among individuals being tested for the virus for the first time.
It also highlighted the impact of National HIV Testing Week, noting a 22% increase in the number of tests carried out in this time compared to 2022.
Dr Tamara Ðuretić, Head of HIV section at UKHSA, said: ‘Testing allows people to have access to free prevention interventions such as PrEP (HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis) and, should you test positive, ensures timely access to treatment that saves lives and prevents the virus being passed on.’
During National HIV Testing Week (10 to 16 February 2025), anyone in England can order a free test from Free Testing HIV to use at home.
