National HIV Service
Hertfordshire have joined a nationally procured HIV home sampling service supported by Public Health England.
The HIV self-sampling service allows individuals to order a free self-sampling kit from www.freetesting.hiv, mailed to an address of their choice, and then return a self-taken blood sample to a laboratory for testing and results management.
The service is for individuals aged 16 years and over residing in local authority areas who have commissioned the service. The kits are only available for free to those at higher risk of HIV infection in Hertfordshire: men who have sex with men (MSM) and Black African heterosexuals. Those not eligible to access a kit will be encouraged to get tested at their local sexual health service
Full details are outlined in the Frequently Asked Questions.
In response to the release of the annual HIV data, Public Health have produced a Hertfordshire briefing paper including local data and recommendations: HIV in Hertfordshire (hertshealthevidence.org) Key points: National annual HIV and STI reports and data tables can also be found at: Local level HIV and STI data can be found on the Sexual and Reproductive Health Profiles