Rapid HIV Testing
Working in conjunction with the Department of Infection and Travel Medicine at James Cook Hospital, Teesside Positive Action has funded and piloted a
ground-breaking clinic where clients can get an HIV test and the result in less than one hour.
The service, which has previously only been widely available
in big cities, does not always require an appointment and has been specifically designed to cause the minimum of disruption to working and social lives with clients
being able to attend either a drop-in session or make an appointment to suit them. The immediate nature of the test also means that the numbers of people tested
who do not return for their results could be dramatically reduced.
Teesside Positive Action estimates that are in excess of 200 people currently diagnosed HIV positive in the Tees Valley region. However, the true number could be much higher.
Current figures do not include people who access care outside Teesside or people unaware of their diagnosis so in reality there could be a significant number of
people infected with HIV not just at risk from becoming seriously ill but potentially endangering others with infection. It is therefore hoped that the test will
not only give peace of mind to those who may be worried about having HIV but that it will also help in some way to reduce the high numbers of those who remain undiagnosed.
| What does the test involve? |
The test itself is simple and painless. Rather than take a vial of blood from the patient’s vein, a one-use, sterile lancet and a capillary tube are used to
collect of approximately 1/2 ml of blood. This blood is then added to a reactive strip with a buffer solution for analysis. While the effectiveness of the test
(sensitivity and specificity) are comparable to the current antibody tests typically used in most clinical settings, any client showing a reactive result would be
immediately referred to The Dept. of Infection for further blood work and clinical care.
| Where and When can I get tested? |
We run a drop in session (no appointment required) on MONDAY 11a.m. - 4 p.m. (except bank holidays).
If this is not convenient you can request an appointment by filling in an
online booking form (appointments 7 days or more from booking date only)
or by calling us on 01642 254598 (if you require an urgent appointment or an appointment within 7 days).
Our clinic is based in central Middlesbrough at 15 Baker Street. For directions follow this
link
.
TPA's new test is also available at Church Street in Hartlepool, ESMI in Peterlee and Durham Student Union.
Contact us for more information
Read what the press have said:
BBC News July 2006
Evening Gazette July 2006
Evening Gazette August 2006
Contact us
for more information