Rapid HIV testing goes regional

Rapid HIV testing is making roads now into regional areas outside of Sydney. For anyone who hasn't heard about this, it's a new (to Australia) test that only needs a pin prick and half an hour to get the results. 

Bendigo residents now have access to rapid HIV testing through a private clinic, with hopes the new technology will improve testing rates in the regional city and surrounding areas. 

Rapid HIV testing drastically reduces the waiting time for results from several days to under 30 minutes and only needs a pin-prick of blood. 

Dr Benj Tarsh is offering the service through an outreach clinic by Prahran Market Clinic held at Bendigo Primary Care Centre. 

The pre-book service will only be offered on Thursday afternoons and evenings and is considered to be the first regional service in Australia to offer this new technology. 

Last year, one particular rapid test was approved for use by Australian authorities. 

The Victorian and Queensland state governments have announced plans to roll-out the tests this year but Melbourne-based Prahran Market Clinic started offering the tests in March. more

So there's less and less reason not to get tested darlings.