HIV Testing Week
It's the first day of National HIV Testing Week, and we're raising awareness of why it's important to get tested.
National HIV Testing Week 2025 is an important opportunity for us to get back on track to end new HIV cases by 2030 in England. We won't be able to end new HIV transmissions without increasing testing and reaching people who do not currently test for HIV.
An estimated 4,700 people are currently living with undiagnosed HIV in England.
People can live with HIV for a long time without any symptoms, and testing is the only way to know your HIV status.
What should I know about testing?
- testing for HIV is quick and free, confidential and easy.
- if you have HIV, finding out means you can start treatment, stay healthy and avoid passing the virus onto anyone else.
- there are many ways to test, via a sexual health clinic, your GP, through HIV and sexual health charities or by ordering a test online.
- anyone diagnosed with HIV in the UK can access free treatment and support.
- you can test in the comfort of your own home - order your free home test kit (opens new window) now.
Although testing is quick and easy, many people are still anxious when considering taking a test for the first time. Lee, who has experience of testing for HIV, shared:
There's really nothing to worry about. It's not painful, you don't have to tell anyone about it and your results will stay between you and a health care professional. There's also truly nothing they haven't seen before, so nothing to feel embarrassed about!
Louise Sweeney, Interim Deputy Director of Public Health, added:
Testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is a really good way to look after your health and wellbeing. Depending on how many different sexual partners you have in any one year, you might want to consider testing more regularly. The risk of picking up the infection is higher for some more than others, too, which may mean its recommended to take a test as frequently as every three months to ensure that you can access treatment and support as soon as possible from a confidential health service.
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) should get tested routinely for HIV and other STIs - at least annually or every three months if having sex without condoms (opens new window) with new or casual partners.
Black African men and women should have a regular HIV and STI screen if having sex without condoms (opens new window) with new or casual partners. Trans women and trans men who have sex with MSM should test regularly for HIV and other STIs, annually or every three months, if having sex without condoms with new or casual partners.
FAQs
How do you get HIV?
HIV is spread through the body fluids of an infected person, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk, when the person has a detectable viral load. People with HIV who are receiving effective treatment and have an undetectable viral load cannot pass on HIV through their body fluids.
The most common way of getting HIV in the UK is through having anal or vaginal sex without a condom.
It cannot be passed on through coughing, sneezing, kissing, hugging, shaking hands, sharing a bathroom, sharing cups and utensils, or general social contact. For more information on this visit Terrence Higgins Trust (opens new window).
Is HIV still around?
Yes HIV is still a major global public health issue. According to data from the National Aids Trust (opens new window) 102,168 people received HIV care in 2022 in the UK. This is an increase of almost 23% since 2013.
I thought only men who have sex with men could get HIV?
No, anyone can get HIV. In fact, UK statistics on the National Aids Trust (opens new window) show in 2022 there were 1166 new cases of HIV from men who have sex with men and 1145 new cases from heterosexual women. Although new cases were low you can also get HIV from sharing needles and it can be passed on from a mother to her baby.
I have/my partner has HIV. Does this mean we can't have sex?
People with HIV can have sex if they take their HIV medication as prescribed and maintain an undetectable viral load.
As well as treatment for HIV to reduce the viral load to undetectable there are many effective ways to prevent or reduce the risk of HIV infection, including:
- using a condom for sex
- post-exposure prophylaxis (opens new window) (PEP)
- pre-exposure prophylaxis (opens new window) (PrEP)
- if you use drugs, never share needles or other injecting equipment, including syringes, spoons and swabs
Is HIV and AIDS the same thing?
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a late stage of HIV infection that occurs when the immune system is severely damaged.
While HIV can be transmitted from one person to another, AIDS cannot. You can't get an AIDS diagnosis unless you're already HIV positive. Thankfully thanks to effective treatment, many people living with HIV will not develop any AIDS related illness.
Resources
Terrence Higgins Trust - National HIV Testing Week returns for 2025 (opens new window)
National HIV Testing Week 2025 is an important opportunity for us to get back on track to end new HIV cases by 2030 in England. We won't be able to end new HIV transmissions without increasing testing and reaching people who do not currently test for HIV.
An estimated 4,700 people are currently living with undiagnosed HIV in England.
People can live with HIV for a long time without any symptoms, and testing is the only way to know your HIV status.
What should I know about testing?
- testing for HIV is quick and free, confidential and easy.
- if you have HIV, finding out means you can start treatment, stay healthy and avoid passing the virus onto anyone else.
- there are many ways to test, via a sexual health clinic, your GP, through HIV and sexual health charities or by ordering a test online.
- anyone diagnosed with HIV in the UK can access free treatment and support.
- you can test in the comfort of your own home - order your free home test kit (opens new window) now.
Although testing is quick and easy, many people are still anxious when considering taking a test for the first time. Lee, who has experience of testing for HIV, shared:
There's really nothing to worry about. It's not painful, you don't have to tell anyone about it and your results will stay between you and a health care professional. There's also truly nothing they haven't seen before, so nothing to feel embarrassed about!
Louise Sweeney, Interim Deputy Director of Public Health, added:
Testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is a really good way to look after your health and wellbeing. Depending on how many different sexual partners you have in any one year, you might want to consider testing more regularly. The risk of picking up the infection is higher for some more than others, too, which may mean its recommended to take a test as frequently as every three months to ensure that you can access treatment and support as soon as possible from a confidential health service.
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) should get tested routinely for HIV and other STIs - at least annually or every three months if having sex without condoms (opens new window) with new or casual partners.
Black African men and women should have a regular HIV and STI screen if having sex without condoms (opens new window) with new or casual partners. Trans women and trans men who have sex with MSM should test regularly for HIV and other STIs, annually or every three months, if having sex without condoms with new or casual partners.
FAQs
How do you get HIV?
HIV is spread through the body fluids of an infected person, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk, when the person has a detectable viral load. People with HIV who are receiving effective treatment and have an undetectable viral load cannot pass on HIV through their body fluids.
The most common way of getting HIV in the UK is through having anal or vaginal sex without a condom.
It cannot be passed on through coughing, sneezing, kissing, hugging, shaking hands, sharing a bathroom, sharing cups and utensils, or general social contact. For more information on this visit Terrence Higgins Trust (opens new window).
Is HIV still around?
Yes HIV is still a major global public health issue. According to data from the National Aids Trust (opens new window) 102,168 people received HIV care in 2022 in the UK. This is an increase of almost 23% since 2013.
I thought only men who have sex with men could get HIV?
No, anyone can get HIV. In fact, UK statistics on the National Aids Trust (opens new window) show in 2022 there were 1166 new cases of HIV from men who have sex with men and 1145 new cases from heterosexual women. Although new cases were low you can also get HIV from sharing needles and it can be passed on from a mother to her baby.
I have/my partner has HIV. Does this mean we can't have sex?
People with HIV can have sex if they take their HIV medication as prescribed and maintain an undetectable viral load.
As well as treatment for HIV to reduce the viral load to undetectable there are many effective ways to prevent or reduce the risk of HIV infection, including:
- using a condom for sex
- post-exposure prophylaxis (opens new window) (PEP)
- pre-exposure prophylaxis (opens new window) (PrEP)
- if you use drugs, never share needles or other injecting equipment, including syringes, spoons and swabs
Is HIV and AIDS the same thing?
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a late stage of HIV infection that occurs when the immune system is severely damaged.
While HIV can be transmitted from one person to another, AIDS cannot. You can't get an AIDS diagnosis unless you're already HIV positive. Thankfully thanks to effective treatment, many people living with HIV will not develop any AIDS related illness.
Resources
Terrence Higgins Trust - National HIV Testing Week returns for 2025 (opens new window)
