 elenkilk
Elena Killer a health and life style consultant and freelance writer. He writes many articles on HIV test and other HIV related topic. For more information on HIV testing he recommends Freedom Health.
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If you're thinking of getting an HIV test, you may be wondering whether your best option is to go private or visit an NHS clinic.
Both have their benefits, of course. While you may not have to pay for treatment at an NHS clinic, you will have to pay at a private clinic. However, opting for private HIV testing does offer a few distinct advantages.
Here are three key points to think about before making your decision:
1) If your GP knows, it could affect your insurance
Something that many people are unaware of is that certain medical records can be shared with insurance companies. If you visit your GP to request STD testing, it will be added to your records.
In some cases, life or mortgage insurance providers are allowed access to this information. Clearly, this could have an effect on your premiums or even your eligibility for cover.
According to HIV charity The Terrence Higgins Trust, it is possible to protect some information when visiting your GP, but this is dependent on knowing your doctor well and discussing the issue in depth.
If you go straight to a GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinic, then you do have the option to remain anonymous. Yet, for many people, the first port of call is still the GP.
The crucial thing to understand is that any tests performed at a private clinic do not have to be added to your medical record.
2) You can choose a time and avoid long waits
While NHS GUM clinics have improved in recent years, waiting times are still far higher than their private counterparts.
For example, the target for many council areas is to offer 90% of people an appointment within 48hrs. In the cases where a GUM clinic offers a walk-in service the waiting times can be up to several hours.
(This makes it much harder to keep your visit secret by nipping out in your lunch hour.)
According to the sexual health charity GMFA, it can often take a week to secure an appointment. You may then have to sit in the waiting room for long period. GMFA also recommend phoning ahead for GUM walk-in bookings and preparing yourself for a wait of at least 3 hours.
Private clinics on the other hand offer more flexible opening hours, often including evenings and weekends. That makes it easier to incorporate a walk-in test into your normal schedule.
3) You don't have to wait 3 months before testing
In many cases, NHS GUM clinics only offer the HIV antibody test. This checks for the presence of antibodies in the blood – but it is only effective for confirming infection that took place three months prior.
If you suspect you may be HIV positive, that's a long time to wait for confirmation.
Private clinics offer a greater range of options. This includes the p24 antigen test – which is accurate in detecting infection that occurred just four weeks beforehand. Some clinics even offer the HIV PCR test which can detect infection from as little as 10 days prior.
You're also more likely to receive your results within 24hrs at private clinics, which means less of an agonising wait for you.
Overall, the decision between a private and an NHS HIV clinic comes down to your personal preference and the location of the surgery. However, before you make your decision, consider the above points. They could help you avoid stress, get treated sooner and even help you maintain confidentiality.
Elena Killer a health and life style consultant and freelance writer. He writes articles on HIV test and other HIV related topic. For more information on HIV testing and
HIV test, he recommends you to visit
http://www.freedomhealth.co.uk/
