Rapid Testing on the Mersey

posted: 23/03/2010

People may feel they have taken risks with HIV and have not had the courage to get tested. National and local figures show around 1 in 3 people have not yet found out they already have HIV. In Liverpool a new Rapid Test service means there is no waiting for the answer or need to go back to collect the HIV test results.

Around 150 people on Merseyside are living with undiagnosed HIV, according to one of Liverpool’s nurse specialists, Bob Downes, HIV Nurse Specialist at NHS Liverpool Community Health.

Rapid Test in 20 minutes

The simple test being used takes just 20 minutes. It’s an easy to use drop-in service, and people don’t have to go away and collect the result later. You get the result after only a few minutes wait.

Testing proving popular
The pilot’s proving popular - 84% of users of the service who were surveyed said they preferred the rapid test to having a standard laboratory HIV test, and 92% said they would recommend the service to others.

Testing prevents late diagnosis
Bob said: “It is a shocking but true that 30% of HIV infections in the community are undiagnosed. “Being diagnosed with HIV is no longer a death sentence. More and more people are living and working with HIV than ever before, but it is vital that it is caught in the early stages to give people the best possible chance of managing the virus. We would urge anyone who fears they may have exposed themselves to HIV in the past to think about getting tested, so that they can either put their mind at rest, if the test is negative, or take action, if it proves positive.”

Vida Spaine, the Nurse Coordinator for the service at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said: “This new technology is now being used in Liverpool for the first time, partly in response to research by the National AIDS Trust, which has shown that public knowledge of HIV in the UK is declining and there is evidence of a lack of understanding about HIV.”

The free, same hour, drop-in, while you wait HIV testing services for local communities in Liverpool is lead by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, with NHS Liverpool Community Health, the Health Protection Agency, Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Liverpool John Moores University.

Serena Cavanagh from Sahir House, the Liverpool-based HIV support organisation, said: “We are now in our 25th year of offering services to people living with or affected by HIV and the testing procedure has improved so much. 25 years ago you would have to wait up to 2 weeks to get the result, but today’s rapid testing gives you a result in 20 minutes. Although having an HIV test is still a difficult choice to make, people are aware of their choices and options sooner.”

Where?
Here’s where you can get tested by this free and confidential HIV Rapid Test service.
 

• Well Travelled Clinics, (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine), Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA Thursday 9am-12pm, contact Vida Spaine on 0151 705 3163        Directions 
• Hartington Road Family Health Clinic, Hartington Road / Lesseps Road, Toxteth, Liverpool, L8 0SG  Monday – Friday, contact 0151 285 2802
• The Liverpool Centre for Sexual Health, Department of GUM, 1st Floor, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP, contact 0151 706 2620.

Liverpool Gay Rapid HIV Test Push

posted: 20/11/2009

Liverpool’s Armistead gay community support service is offering free, confidential, 20 minute HIV testing for gay and bisexual men, around World AIDS Day.

Testing is on these dates and times. Results after 20 minutes:

• Evenings                                    Thursday 26 November                                 4pm - 9pm
• All Day on World AIDS Day            Tuesday 1 December                                    9am - 6pm
• Afternoon and evening                  Wednesday and Thursday 2 and 3 December    12pm - 7pm

Appointments, referrals, and further information - Armistead Project, 1 Stanley Street, Liverpool, L1 6AA 0151 227 1893                      email

Part of the Liverpool Gets Tested project of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Over 1 in 4 people living with HIV in the UK do not know they have HIV.
Knowing your HIV status protects both your and your partners’ health.
 

image credit: the heart of Liverpool’s gay quarter

Walk-In 20 Minute HIV Tests

posted: 25/06/2009

Starting on Thursday 2 July, the Lesbian and Gay Foundation and the Manchester Centre for Sexual Health will offer a new rapid HIV testing clinic for gay and bisexual men. The tests clinic will be at the LGF on Princess Street in Manchester every Thursday from 4pm to 6pm. The service will start up as a walk-in service.

The test that will be used gives results within 20 minutes of taking the test.

Nathan Perry the LGF’s sexual health and HIV co-ordinator said: “We are extremely happy with the fact that we will be able to deliver this long awaited service from the LGF premises in partnership with the Manchester Centre for Sexual Health.”

STI check and hepatitis jabs too

The HIV testing clinic will also provide a test for syphilis and offer Hepatitis B vaccinations.

This new service is in addition to LGF's outreach clinic on Monday afternoons from various locations throughout Manchester, including three gay saunas.

Manchester and Salford - 400 gay men undiagnosed

There are an estimated 77,000 people living with HIV in the UK, of which 21,000 do not know they have the infection - about 1 in 3 have not been diagnosed.

In Manchester and Salford there are around 1100 gay men diagnosed. About 400 gay men in the twin cities of Salford and Manchester have HIV, but don't know it.

Early diagnosis is better - treatment works best when it is started before the CD4 count of immune system damage has fallen below 350. This CD4 level is reached perhaps 3 years after infection. Treatment started after CD4 counts fall below this 350 level doesn't work as well.

Where and When

The tests clinic will be at the LGF on Princess Street in central Manchester every Thursday from 4pm to 6pm. The service is a walk-in service.

LGF, Princess House, 105-107 Princess Street, Manchester M1 6DD

0161 235 8035
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