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.

 

Hertfordshire HIV Briefing

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:

  • HIV prevalence in Hertfordshire was lower than England in 2021.
  • Within Hertfordshire, diagnosed HIV prevalence in ages 15 to 59 in 2021 was highest in Watford, Stevenage and Hertsmere.
  • Whilst prevalence was significantly lower in East Hertfordshire in 2021, testing coverage in this district was significantly worse than Hertfordshire.
  • Late HIV diagnosis, which increases the risk of severe disease and death, occurred in 41.1% of people with newly diagnosed HIV within Hertfordshire in 2019-2021

National annual HIV and STI reports and data tables can also be found at:

  1. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): annual data tables – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
  2. National chlamydia screening programme (NCSP): data tables – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
  3. HIV: annual data tables – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Local level HIV and STI data can be found on the Sexual and Reproductive Health Profiles

  1. Sexual and Reproductive Health Profiles – OHID (phe.org.uk)