Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing restrictions, HIV testing services have either ceased or reduced and as a result HIV testing rates have decreased rapidly. HIV Testing Week this year will focus on promoting online options for testing.
HIV Testing Week is an annual, state-wide event held in the first week of June. HIV testing Week, promotes the importance of HIV testing to reduce HIV transmission and to improve health outcomes for those unknowingly living with HIV.
During these challenging times around the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to continue to raise awareness of the importance of HIV testing in order to achieve our ambitious target of ending HIV transmission by the end of 2020. A finger prick test is all it takes to get tested for HIV!
DBS testing is an innovative pilot research project offered in partnership with the Ministry of Health, St Vincent’s Hospital and Sexual Health InfoLink (shil.nsw.gov.au/). It’s a free, easy and private way to test for HIV and hepatitis C (HCV). You can order a finger prick kit test online, collect your own blood sample (in the convenience of your home!), post it back (free of charge) and receive the results via text, email or phone, all without having to see a doctor!
No Medicare card is required to order and complete the test.
The eligible criteria for DBS testing include:
• Men who have sex with men
• People from regions of high HIV/HCV prevalence
• People with sexual partners from regions of high HIV prevalence
• People who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• People who have ever injected drugs
• People that are currently or have ever been incarcerated
DBS kits can be ordered at dbstest.health.nsw.gov.au/.
