Make a difference this National HIV Testing week

National HIV Testing Week takes place from November 22-30 to encourage HIV testing among gay and bisexual men and African people – the groups most affected by HIV in the UK.

Testing has never been easier and you can get tested in a variety of places – from saunas to bars, clubs and clinics – using rapid HIV tests which give your result in minutes. Find your nearest testing clinic at tht.org.uk/test

One of the main aims of National HIV Testing Week is to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis. HIV damages the immune system, and without treatment it leaves you vulnerable to serious illness and disease. If you are diagnosed early and start treatment on time, you are likely to stay healthy and live a near-normal lifespan. Effective HIV treatment also lowers your chances of passing on HIV.

Regular testing means that if you have HIV you can find out quickly and start treatment as soon as you need to – before any damage is done. HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust is co-ordinating the event (a partnership between NHS sexual health clinics and community-based HIV testing services) on behalf of HIV Prevention England. This is the third time the annual event has taken place.

Cary James, Terrence Higgins Trust’s Head of Health Improvement, says: “We’ve been thrilled by the success of National HIV Testing Week. The national figures on HIV give us confidence that our ongoing drive to get more gay men testing more regularly is having an impact. Testing rates are up, diagnoses are up, and the level of undiagnosed HIV is coming down. We want to get the message out there that together, we can stop HIV.”

If you would prefer to test at home, Terrence Higgins Trust also offers a postal testing service. You just take a blood sample at home and post it to a laboratory, then you receive your results within a week. Go to startswithme.org.uk to order yours.

Look out for adverts on buses and billboards around the country during National HIV Testing Week, as well as on your favourite dating apps, in the gay press and on social media.

To find out more about National HIV Testing Week visit its Facebook page. Join the conversation about HIV, testing and treatment on Twitter under the hashtag #hivtestweek