A new report says that the cost of keeping people in the developing world on drugs to help them fight the HIV virus is less than the increase in productivity they bring to the economy.

Read the full article here.

In a recent poll, Newcastle upon Tyne has been named as the place most Britons would go for a one night stand. The top 5 were:
1 Newcastle
2 London
3 Manchester
4 Liverpool
5 Nottingham

Better2Know has anonymous STD testing clinics in all of these locations, and nationwide, which can provide you with fast results and get peace of mind.

The full article can be found by clicking here.

The Consultant Thoracic Specialist, Prof Margaret Johnson discusses the prevalence, symptoms and treatment of HIV/AIDS in the UK today.

As you may be aware, 26% of people living with HIV in the UK do not know that they are infected. However, with treatment here being superior to countries such as the USA, 90% of UK-based patients had an undetectable viral load only one year after starting therapy.

Prof Margaret Johnson is encouraging doctors in the UK to consider HIV infection in general practice, as well as secondary care, in order to prevent late diagnosis. She proposes that it is essential that all healthcare professionals should offer HIV antibody testing routinely to their patients, particularly those who are in a high prevalence group.

About our Medical Expert

Professor Margaret Johnson is one of the most pre-eminent experts in the treatment of HIV. She set up the first and largest open-access HIV clinic in the UK at the Royal Free NHS Trust where she is currently Clinical Director of HIV services.

To read or download the article in full please click here.

One in four people (26.1%) responding to the Better2Know 2011 survey have worried that they might have infected a partner with a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). In addition, nearly half of respondents (47.6%) admit to being unfaithful to their partner and over two-thirds of these people (69.9%) have done so more than once.

According to the Health Protection (HPA) 418,598 people were diagnosed with a STD in 2010*. Many STDs have no symptoms but can lead to infertility in women, and both men and women can pass the infection on to partners. In most cases a short course of antibiotics will cure the problem.

“Over 6,700 new cases of HIV were diagnosed in the UK during 2010. With advances in HIV treatment, the disease is now widely considered a chronic condition which can be managed effectively over the patients’ normal lifespan**” said Better2Know Chairman Mike Asher. He continued “There is however, strong evidence that up to 25% of the HIV-positive population is undiagnosed, which contributes to rising treatment costs and a high rate of new infections. Early diagnosis is fundamental to increasing life expectancy, and to reducing levels of new infections. Regular testing for HIV and other STDs is the only way to identify the infection, and treatment can then either cure or manage the conditions. The HPA estimates that by 2012 there will be over 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK and one in five of these patients will be over the age of 50.”**

The Better2Know 2011 survey showed that half of respondents (50.0%) thought that NHS provision was insufficient, with concerns about anonymity, attending a drop - in service and length of time for results the main reasons for saying it was inadequate.

“Private STD clinics can offer much faster testing results than the NHS” said Better2Know Director Anthea Morris. “When you are worried about whether you have an STD it can be all consuming, affecting your relationships, social and work life. Some patients have reported waiting up to three weeks for results on the NHS, after having to wait for a 90 day incubation period for HIV. Better2Know can provide instant HIV tests after the 90 day incubation period, and can also provide HIV tests from 10 days after the potential exposure to the virus. All Better2Know STD test results are delivered within one to five working days depending on the test.”

A government backed survey of 18-24 year olds shows a lack of awareness of sexual health and what to look for when seeking information on websites.

Better2Know is the leading UK provider of private sexual health testing, we only use UK accredited pathology services to do all its testing, and we are supported by the Terrence Higgins Trust as an approved provider.

The House of Lords select committee on HIV & AIDS in the UK, has said that increasing HIV testing in critical to preventing the spread of AIDS. The committee was chaired by Lord Fowler, has recommended a new HIV awarenesss campaign, 25 years after the hard hitting “Dont’ die of ignorance” campaign.

Home tests are currently banned in the UK as they are not regulated or of sufficient quality, the committee wants to see this ban lifted, and Better2Know will be one of the first organisations to offer a quality assured home test.

To see the full article from the HIV & AIDS committee, please click here.

SOME PARTNERS LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION, WHAT DID YOURS LEAVE YOU? CONFIDENTIAL FLEXIBLE APPOINTMENTS FOR STD TESTING

London, United Kingdom, 31 August 2011

Better 2 Know, the country’s leading provider of private STD tests, is officially launching its new extended hours service in London on 1 September 2011.

Following demand from customers to be more responsive to their busy lives: Better2Know has launched a new service for Londoners: no longer do they need to specify an appointment time for their STD test: customers can now book to attend a private clinic and then arrive at any time on the given day between 7:00am and 7:00pm Monday to Fridays and 9:00am to 5:00pm on Saturdays. Customers will be seen within fifteen minutes by a fully qualified nurse, to have their tests (blood and/or urine samples depending on the test). The results will be available within two to five days depending on the tests chosen by the customer. An appointment with a doctor can be arranged to discuss the results if required by the customer.

“This is an exciting new service for our customers who need more flexibility to fit their appointment around their busy work and social life” said Better2Know Chairman Mike Asher, he continued “Better2Know puts healthcare in the hands of the customer by allowing them to choose which tests to have, and provides fast results from our highest quality, CPA (Clinical Pathology Accredited) Laboratory”.

For those who want to see a doctor before they get their results, Better2Know is expanding its national clinical coverage and has appointments available in 50 clinics nationwide during the day, and has appointments available on evenings, Saturdays and Sundays in London, as well as evenings and Saturdays in Manchester and Edinburgh.

Better2Know provides complete discretion and confidentiality for your STD test. Customers are given a unique reference which is all they need to give when they arrive at the clinic. Better2Know provides accurate results quickly, reducing the stress of waiting for results.

Hepatitis is an injury to the liver indicated by the presence of inflammatory cells in its tissue. This disease might be self-limiting, heal on its own, or might advance to a point where it causes liver scarring. It is considered chronic if it lasts longer than six months and acute if it lasts less than six months.

Hepatitis has two categories, namely viral and non-viral hepatitis. Viral hepatitis can be categorised as acute if the condition occurs swiftly with relentless symptoms but only lasts for a short time. Non-viral hepatitis is a condition that slowly creeps in and may or may not have any manifestations, but lasts far longer.

Most cases of liver damage in the world are caused by a group of viruses, known as the hepatitis viruses. However, some cases are caused by toxins (like alcohol), other infections, or by an autoimmune process.

There are different types of hepatitis, depending on the viruses triggering the symptoms. Tests to determine which kind of hepatitis is present in an individual’s body will help in designing the appropriate treatment plan for them. Depending on the type of virus found in the body, a patient might undergo more than one or two tests to make sure that the diagnosis is correct and to determine what other infections are inside the body’s systems.

The five types of viral hepatitis are Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. Non-viral hepatitis, on the other hand, has two main types which are called toxic/drug-induced hepatitis and alcoholic hepatitis. In addition, there are two less common types of non-viral hepatitis called autoimmune hepatitis and granulomatous hepatitis.

Based on the 2010 statistics, around 63% of people suffer from some form of sexually transmitted disease at any one time. Some people who are suffering from STDs prefer to administer self-medication being uncomfortable with the idea of seeking professional help because of the embarrassment associated with an examination. Some STDs are asymptomatic (no apparent symptoms) and the condition of the person who is infected has already worsened before they are properly diagnosed.

Many STD/HIV testing clinics are available in London. The clinics offer services that ensure strict confidentiality relating to a patient’s case. At some clinics patients who need to undergo certain tests need not give their real names. These clinics do not give an update or any report to a government database so the patients can really be assured of complete privacy. Clinics are located in many parts of London, they are usually well maintained and offer fast results for patients that present there.

At present STD and HIV testing clinics are available in Victoria, Paddington, Notting Hill, Peckham, Canary Wharf; Bank, Mansion House, the West End, Oxford Street, and Baker Street. There are several other clinics dotted around the capital.

It is advised that anyone who has unprotected sex with multiple partners should have regular STD tests (every 6 months), and anyone who has any symptoms or feels that they may have an infection should get tested straight away.

It can be an incredibly challenging and emotional experience when disclosing an HIV positive status to close family, friends or a partner. Likewise, the challenges continue when telling other acquaintances such as an employer and work colleagues. There is likely to be a great deal of anxiety about how each person will react and, chances are, each person will react differently. Of course, with regards to your partner, disclosure is incredibly important as that person has also been at risk of infection and should be tested as soon as possible.

Once family and friends have been informed, they will have the opportunity to find out more about HIV and will hopefully be able to offer more support once they are better informed. There is still a fear that HIV and AIDS means that a loved one will die but that is not always the case now with the treatments available.

There is still a great deal of stigma surrounding HIV and many people still do not understand the virus or how it can and cannot be transmitted. This further complicates the decision to disclose an HIV positive status to friends and family.

There is no easy way to disclose HIV status and every person will have their own way of doing so. It is important that this step is taken at the person’s own pace. Counsellors at STD clinics or a GP can provide support throughout this process. It may also be useful to gain support from someone who has personal experience.