As the world marks World AIDS day on 01 December, a four year, ground-breaking trial on HIV self-testing has been launched.<\/p>\n
The HIV-Self Testing Africa (STAR) project will be carried out by the Populations Services International (PSI) in collaboration with World Health Organisation and UNITAID. It’s the largest ever evaluation of HIV-self testing in Africa and will inform world health guidelines and policy.<\/p>\n
The project was launched in Harare on the eve of World Aids Day at the on-going AIDS and STI conference ICASA. Self-testing kits will be distributed in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi in the first phase with South Africa expected to come on board in the second phase.<\/p>\n
The simple three step test to determine one’s status requires a swab of the lower and upper gum once followed by inserting the device in a vial containing a solution. Within 20 – 40 minutes the results are out.<\/p>\n
In the first two year phase from February 2016, 750 000 of these test kits will be available in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia mainly to at risk groups.<\/p>\n