HIV TESTING CARRIED OUT IN APPROVED MEDICAL LABORATORIES FOR HEALTH DIVISION

The Health Division would like to state that for the purposes of HIV testing the Division relies solely on tests that are carried out in approved medical diagnostic laboratories. These tests are highly sensitive and can easily be confirmed with other tests using the same blood sample. The quality of the results is regularly assessed by participation in an International Quality Assurance Programme provided by the Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta, USA.

The use of home kits for HIV testing as advertised on the Internet may not be accurate and miss out on opportunities to provide counselling and discuss the consequences of the result by professional persons in the field. For these reasons the Health Division strongly advises against the use of such home kits as these are not in the best interest of the persons using them.

A person undertaking an HIV test needs psychological preparation achieved by counselling both before and after the test. This ensures that the person is capable of facing all possible outcomes and is given the required help and support irrespective of the result.

The Health Division provides a confidential testing service free of charge from the Government Health Clinics and GU clinic at Sir Paul Boffa Hospital.