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Cape Town – South Africans have been encouraged to use the self-diagnosis kits for HIV available at their local pharmacies.
Prior to the commemoration of World AIDS Day, this year, health experts said the test was 99% accurate and that it could be done in the privacy of your home. The test can be done if you are pregnant, badfeeding and from 12 years old.
World AIDS Day will be commemorated under the theme "Cheka Impilo – Know Your Status" and call on all South Africans to take responsibility for their health and well-being.
According to Jackie Maimin, Executive Director of the Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA), South Africa is experiencing the largest and most well-known HIV epidemic in the world, with about 7.2 million of people living with HIV last year.
Maimin said HIV testing is essential to expand treatment and ensure that all people living with HIV can lead healthy and productive lives.
"There are now a number of approved HIV self-screening kits available in pharmacies in South Africa that allow people to screen for the virus in the privacy of their home – the tests are highly specific to the HIV virus with an accuracy of 99% and provide a valuable indicator of the presence of HIV antibodies, "she said.
Previously, South African pharmacies were not allowed to sell HIV test kits, but this ban was lifted.
"Self-screening tests work by detecting the body's natural antibodies against HIV infection. In addition, self-screening tests are perfectly safe during pregnancy and can be used from 12 years old.
"The self-screening kits are not meant to be used by people already on antiretroviral therapy," explained Maimin.
However, she warned that the body's immune system took between six and 12 weeks to create anti-HIV antibodies.
"Because an HIV auto-test looks for antibodies, not for the virus, it's possible to get a negative" false "test result during that time.
"For this reason, it is important to regularly test if you are at high risk of getting HIV and, if you think you have been exposed to the virus, repeat the test after a recommended 12 weeks."
Professional advice is also readily available at local community pharmacies to answer all your questions, help you interpret the results, and help guide you to the appropriate health facilities, if needed.
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