On Monday, the first legally approved HIV self-testing kit went on sale in the United Kingdom. The kit claimed to have more than 99% accuracy rate. According to reports, the kit, BioSURE HIV Self Test, uses very small amount of blood from a finger prick to detect HIV. It gives results in just 15 minutes.

As per some reports, more than 25,000 individuals in the United Kingdom have HIV, but most of them are unaware of it, which makes them responsible for onwards transmissions. Positive test results by the kit will be confirmed by a healthcare professional. It has also been recommended that people in high-risk groups will be tested every three months.

Dr Michael Brady of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said that the new testing kit will be helpful in knowing about HIV. According to Brady, the kit is a really exciting development. He further said that rates of undiagnosed HIV or late diagnoses are still high in the region. It has been contributing to unnecessary illness and onward transmission of HIV, he added.

Knowledge about the virus, early diagnosis and access to successful HIV treatment are always some of the major benefits for people who are carrying the virus, Brady said. According to him, it not only beneficial for infected people but also for public health.

Brady said, “The single biggest thing that we can do to have a major impact on the HIV epidemic is to dramatically increase HIV testing rates, especially in those most at risk. The availability of HIV self-testing will help us achieve that.”

Campaigns manager at the National Aids Trust, Kat Smithson, has also welcomed the development. She said that as a number of people do not know about their HIV status, the new kit will help them to know about the virus.