首个HIV自检试剂盒登陆英国市场助力艾滋病防治

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艾滋病是人类有史以来面对的最可怕疾病之一。直到现在，人们一直都没有找到能有效治疗艾滋病的方法。不过，随着医学的进步，及早发现和接受治疗能够帮助艾滋病患者尽可能改善生存状况和生活质量。然而，一方面由于公众对艾滋病认识的局限，许多HIV的携带者在病发初期并没有意识到自己已经被艾滋病感染，从而耽误诊断和治疗；另一方面由于许多人谈"艾"色变，也使得一些艾滋病患者不敢公开病情甚至接受治疗。

为了从源头控制艾滋病的传播和帮助艾滋病患者在感染早期就确定病情，英国最近上市了世界上第一个自检艾滋病家庭检测试剂盒。受检者只需自己的一滴血液就能在15分钟内获得最终检测报告。而该试剂盒检测感染三个月后的HIV携带者准确率达到了99.7%之多。

据推测，目前英国大约有26000人并不清楚自己携带者HIV病毒，这为英国政府防止艾滋病的工作带来了重大隐患。由此可能会导致更多人在无意识状态下被感染。这也使得这些患者因此错过了最佳的治疗机会。

这一新型试剂盒的售价约为29.9英镑，而英国健康部门则提供免费的HIV诊断。

而最近一段时间，生物医药巨头们在HIV治疗领域也取得了一系列成果。如百时施贵宝、吉利德公司等先后公布了HIV药物研究的最新进展和申报工作。

原文链接：
First HIV home test goes on sale in the UK

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-32453192

HIV home test kit goes on sale in UK

The first legally approved HIV self-test kit that allows people to get a result in 15 minutes at home has gone on sale in England, Scotland and Wales.
Unlike other kits, these tests do not need to be sent off to a lab to get the results.
It works by detecting antibodies on a small drop of blood, which are often only detectable three months after the infection is caught.
Experts warn that any positive tests must be reconfirmed at clinics.
Charities hope it will reduce some of the 26,000 people estimated to have undiagnosed HIV in the UK.
Testing lines
An early diagnosis allows people to get treatment quickly and can prevent serious complications. And individuals successfully treated for HIV are less likely to pass the infection on.
This new "do-it-yourself" test is made by company Bio Sure UK and can be bought online.
It works in a similar way to a pregnancy test, measuring levels of antibodies - proteins made in response to the virus - in a person's blood.
The device analyses a small droplet of blood, taken from the finger-tip using a lancet. Two purple lines appear if it is positive.
The company recommends attending sexual health clinics for advice and further blood tests if both lines appear.
And even if the test is negative experts say it does not mean people are definitely virus free - especially if exposure occurred within the last three months.
The three-month window period, between the moment someone catches the infection and the time it can take for antibodies to develop, means the kit is not reliable during this time.
Quick access
Charities have welcomed the test and hope it will encourage more people to get checks - particularly those reluctant to go to clinics in the first instance.
Dr Rosemary Gillespie, chief executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: "We campaigned for a long time to secure the legalisation of HIV self-test kits which happened in April 2014, so it is great to see the first self-test kits being approved.
"However, it is important to make sure people can get quick access to support when they get their result."
Shaun Griffin, also at the charity, said: "At the moment there are funding challenges throughout the NHS, including for sexual health services.
"It is absolutely critical that people have access to HIV tests and advice they need."
Free HIV tests are available across the NHS.
In Northern Ireland ministers are considering legal changes to allow the sale of home testing kits.