Prince Harry’s live HIV test leads to spike in sales of self-testing kits
By Will Stroude
Two weeks ago, Prince Harry hit the headlines after he was broadcast live on the Royal Family’s Facebook page taking an instant HIV test with the help of the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), UK’s pre-eminent HIV charity.
And according to The Gay UK, not only did his Royal Highness help break down stigma surrounding a virus that remained taboo for over 30 years, but his very public stand has led to a considerable boost in the number of HIV self-testing kits sold over the last two weeks.
Since the Prince’s test, over 4750 BioSure kits (at home HIV self test kits) were ordered from all over the UK, and further afield in British crown dependencies like Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
The kit promises anonymity whilst providing a result within 15 minutes.
THT’s Medical Director, Michael Brady, said: “We know that one in six people living with HIV do not know that they have it. Testing puts you in control and, thanks to treatment, will stop you from getting seriously ill, enable you to live a normal lifespan and prevent you from passing the virus on to anyone else.
“That’s why it’s so important that we continue looking for new ways to make HIV testing more accessible to those most at risk, and why it’s fantastic to see the very tangible and immediate impact of Prince Harry’s support for HIV testing.”
You can order your own HIV self test kit here. If you’re worried about HIV, get in touch with the Terrence Higgins Trust.
Words: Salomé Baudino
More stories:
First look at Duncan James in Hollyoaks
Looking: The Movie gets UK premiere