Perth chemist is to stock HIV kit
Results in just 15 mins
A Perth chemist will become one of the first in the UK to offer HIV self-testing kits.
Retailer Superdrug has confirmed it will stock the kit, thought to be 99.7 per cent accurate, across 200 pharmacy stores.
Among them is the branch in Perth High Street, one of just six in Scotland.
Costing £33.99, the BioSURE HIV Self Test was only available online.
The kit became the first legally approved self testing kit in 2015.
A small amount of blood, obtained by a finger prick, is used to detect the presence of HIV antibodies and offers a result in just 15 minutes.
Superdrug said that making the kit more widely available will help reduce a person’s waiting time between taking the test and their result.
It is hoped it could also help increase early diagnosis rates.
Dr Pixie McKenna, a GP and Superdrug’s health expert, said: “Superdrug’s move to encourage and empower patients to self-test for HIV is one further step forward in our fight against this disease.
“While there is no cure, early diagnosis is key in terms of management.
“Patients successfully managed on HIV treatments have normal life expectancy, but to know you need treatment you need to know your diagnosis.”
Michael Henry, healthcare director at Superdrug, added: “We are delighted to be the first high street retailer to add BioSURE HIV Self Test to our in-store portfolio and to give our customers more accessibility when it comes to self-testing - it’s absolutely crucial that people know their status.
“We do understand this can be a difficult time, our nursing and pharmacist staff are always on hand to discuss any questions or concerns consumers may have around HIV.”
Other stores in Scotland offering the kits will be in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh Airport, Largs and Glasgow.
It is estimated that there are 10,400 people in the UK who do not know that they are living with HIV. Superdrug says that making the HIV kit more widely available will help reduce a person’s waiting time between taking the test and their result