HIV is a difficult disease to diagnose, not because of lack of ability to test for HIV but due to human psychology. Firstly as there are no specific HIV symptoms that indicate infection many individuals who have had unprotected sex and put themselves at risk of HIV infection do not test and simply fall back on the ‘well I’m not sick’ excuse.
Secondly due to its social stigma many individuals are embarrassed to seek out testing and simply carry on in denial in regards to the risk of contracting the disease. As time goes by they may develop symptoms or eventually seek HIV testing but in the interim they have potentially infected others. This is where the HIV testing challenge exists and where we must make progress to lower the infection rates in Australia.
It is estimated in Australia that 10% of the HIV infected population are unware they are infected. This means potentially they are continuing with the same unsafe sex practices that allowed them to be infected with HIV. Clearly there is an issue with HIV testing awareness and education in Australia. This high risk 10% of HIV carriers almost certainly know they have been potentially exposed yet still have not tested. By making available HIV rapid test kits, or HIV self-test kits potentially these individuals could test for HIV sooner. If they are HIV positive then of course knowing this will potentially protect others from HIV infection.
We know HIV symptoms are no reliable means to self-diagnose infection more HIV testing is the most accessible solution we have now. You can purchase HIV home test kits as well as test kits for a range of common STDs at www.headstarttesting.com. You can read more about HIV in Australia at http://www.hivmediaguide.org.au/hiv-in-australia/hiv-statistics-australia/ and should you not wish to purchase HIV self-test kits you can elect to be counselled and tested in Australia. You can find HIV testing centres at you can find HIV testing clinics through the AIDS foundation https://www.afao.org.au/about-hiv/getting-tested-for-hiv/
Please, if in doubt, test!.
Secondly due to its social stigma many individuals are embarrassed to seek out testing and simply carry on in denial in regards to the risk of contracting the disease. As time goes by they may develop symptoms or eventually seek HIV testing but in the interim they have potentially infected others. This is where the HIV testing challenge exists and where we must make progress to lower the infection rates in Australia.
It is estimated in Australia that 10% of the HIV infected population are unware they are infected. This means potentially they are continuing with the same unsafe sex practices that allowed them to be infected with HIV. Clearly there is an issue with HIV testing awareness and education in Australia. This high risk 10% of HIV carriers almost certainly know they have been potentially exposed yet still have not tested. By making available HIV rapid test kits, or HIV self-test kits potentially these individuals could test for HIV sooner. If they are HIV positive then of course knowing this will potentially protect others from HIV infection.
We know HIV symptoms are no reliable means to self-diagnose infection more HIV testing is the most accessible solution we have now. You can purchase HIV home test kits as well as test kits for a range of common STDs at www.headstarttesting.com. You can read more about HIV in Australia at http://www.hivmediaguide.org.au/hiv-in-australia/hiv-statistics-australia/ and should you not wish to purchase HIV self-test kits you can elect to be counselled and tested in Australia. You can find HIV testing centres at you can find HIV testing clinics through the AIDS foundation https://www.afao.org.au/about-hiv/getting-tested-for-hiv/
Please, if in doubt, test!.