Anne Milton MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health

Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NS

28^th August 2012 

Dear Anne,

I am writing because I am keen to see a change in the law that would deliver significant benefits in terms of the diagnosis and treatment of HIV.

As I understand it, since 1992 it has been illegal for members of the public to self test for the HIV virus. However since then there have been a number of changes that significantly alter the justification for the restriction on self-testing .

Firstly, HIV is no longer the ‘death sentence’ it once was; it is treatable and the sooner it is discovered,  the cheaper the cost of the treatment.

Secondly, we have seen the proliferation - through the internet - of HIV self testing kits being bought illegally from overseas. This is an undesirable, and a potentially dangerous, situation, as such kits generally fail to meet approved medical standards. Nor do they usually contain any information to support the user in the event of a positive diagnosis.

Thirdly, the use of self-testing kits is now legal, medically approved and regulated in numerous countries, including the United States and Holland.  

Legalising and regulating the use of self testing kits here in Britain could have significant public health implications. As you will be aware, one in four carriers of HIV does not know they are infected.

This is problematic in terms of the individual’s health, as well as in terms of spreading the disease. It is also the case that the earlier the disease is identified, the less it will eventually cost the taxpayer through healthcare costs – currently standing at £350,000 per person.

A change in the law related to self testing kits would increase diagnosis rates.

Research by the Terence Higgins Trust shows that many of the current obstacles to testing, such as fear  of the stigma attached to GUM clinics, lack of time, and poor availability of self testing options, could be overcome, without any detrimental health impacts, through access to self testing kits that meet approved standards.

Giving individuals the choice to test themselves safely, in much the same way you can now test for diabetes or pregnancy, will reduce the rate of infection and the costs once diagnosed, as well as help relieve some of the strain on already stretched sexual health clinics. 

Regulation would also ensure that those using a self testing kit receive an appropriate level of advice and signposting to relevant services if diagnosed as HIV positive.  

I hope you will be willing to consider the evidence and support a change in the law to allow the safe introduction of clinical standard self testing HIV kits.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas MP Brighton Pavilion

Read the ministerial response here.