The National Health Service (NHS) in England, UK, is set to broaden its HIV testing initiative, aiming to reach more individuals through routine checks in accident and emergency (A&E) departments.
This expansion is part of the NHS Blood Borne Virus (BBV) opt-out testing programme, which will now include an additional 30 A&Es across regions with high HIV prevalence.
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NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “Our expansion of this revolutionary opt-out testing is really important; it means thousands more cases of HIV and hepatitis B and C could be detected that may otherwise not get picked up.
“Beyond the emergency department testing programme, there are a range of ways to get tested by the NHS if you are concerned, including doing simple tests at home, so we urge anyone who could be living with HIV or hepatitis C to get checked.”
The initiative’s growth will result in 89 major hospital emergency departments (EDs) routinely offering HIV tests to patients who have blood taken, enhancing the detection of new and previously undiagnosed cases.
Health leaders anticipate the extended network of A&E sites will facilitate the identification of up to 1,900 additional cases of HIV each year.
Recent NHS data indicates that over seven million tests have been conducted since April 2022, uncovering more than 7,300 new cases of BBVs, including over 1,000 new HIV diagnoses.
The BBV programme has also linked nearly 500 previously diagnosed but untreated cases of HIV and hepatitis C to care, as well as over 3,000 cases of hepatitis B.
To support this expansion, the NHS is investing £27m ($34m) this year, following a previous investment of £20m in 2022 for the implementation of routine HIV opt-out testing in 34 hospital EDs.
The programme offers discreet testing for HIV, as well as hepatitis B and C, with immediate specialist support and treatment planning for positive cases.
It is particularly effective in reaching individuals in the most deprived areas and those of Black African ethnicity.
During National HIV Testing Week, which is currently underway, free HIV home testing kits are also available to anyone in England.
