HIV home test kit goes on sale in Britain

The first HIV self-testing kit that allows people to get a result in less than half-an-hour at home has gone on sale in the U.K.

The BioSure HIV Self Test, which claims to have a 99.7 per cent accuracy rate, measuring levels of antibodies in a person’s blood. The test detects antibodies on a small drop of blood, taken from the finger-tip using a lancet. These antibodies are often only detectable three months after the HIV infection is caught.

Two purple lines appear if the result is positive.Further blood tests are recommended if both lines appear.
According to experts, an early diagnosis allows people to get treatment quickly and can prevent serious complications.