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You can test yourself for HIV at home

Zinhle Mapumulo

Zinhle Mapumulo

You can now know your HIV status within 15 minutes in the privacy of your home.

An HIV-test kit is set to hit the market on February 16.

Most people dread having an HIV test because of the long queues in public hospitals and lack of privacy that it entails.

The HIV rapid diagnostic-test kits that have long been used by the health services will now be available over the counter. The test kit will sell for R30 from all Alpha Pharm pharmacies in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Bloemfontein.

Pharmacist Stanley Wolpe said the kit is a breakthrough for South Africans because it will probably encourage people to know their status.

"The good thing about home testing is that it is private and personal. You can do it in your own time and results are available within 15 minutes. The kit comes with simple instructions as well as counselling contacts," said Wolpe.

He said the test has been passed by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases as 100 percent accurate.

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