The earlier HIV is diagnosed and treatment started, the greater the chance of living a very normal, healthy life.
Health professionals should ask relevant questions about sexual practices (see STI/HIV Testing Tool) and avoid assumptions about a patient's risk. Make HIV testing part of your routine practice.
HIV testing should be routinely offered to men, women and gender diverse people who:
Check the National HIV Testing Portal for ‘who to test’ and clinical indicators for HIV testing.
DBS is a finger prick test for HIV and hepatitis C that can be ordered online by eligible people. DBS is free, easy and confidential. Your service can register as a DBS Project site and assist people to register and test – contact Nigel.Carrington@health.nsw.gov.au for more information.
Starting treatment early offers significantly improved health benefits for patients and prevents HIV transmission to others.
New HIV prevention methods significantly reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. HIV PrEP is a pill taken daily by HIV negative people to reduce their risk of becoming infected with HIV.
People with a Medicare card who are at high-risk of HIV can now purchase PrEP in Australia with a stream-lined authority PBS prescription from a GP and have it dispensed from a community pharmacy.
The Decision Making in PrEP: Prescribing Pathway for PrEP in NSW tool summarises eligibility and recommended assessment criteria for primary care providers in NSW who want to prescribe PrEP.
See the ASHM PrEP Clinical Guidelines for more information.
Does your service work with young people? If so, you can order free condoms for distribution (NSW only).
NSW Health has a new HIV Support Program to assist doctors and their newly diagnosed patients to access the services they need.
Every person newly diagnosed with HIV infection has the right to 5 Key Support Services:
