Jump in early detection of HIV with ‘rapid’ tests

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EXCLUSIVE

"As we make testing more accessible and continue to target at-risk groups, we would expect new diagnoses to rise,": Jillian Skinner.

“As we make testing more accessible and continue to target at-risk groups, we would expect new diagnoses to rise,”: Jillian Skinner. Photo: Marina Neil

NSW is seeing an unprecedented rise in early detection and treatment of HIV cases, through new ”rapid” tests that work in minutes and ”pop-up” testing centres at events such as Mardi Gras.

Surveillance figures show the proportion of newly identified HIV cases where the disease is advanced has halved since last year, with the highest proportion of gay men now getting tested in nearly 20 years.

About 100 people were diagnosed in the first quarter of this year, up slightly on last year after a huge rise in testing.

Health Minister Jillian Skinner said the plan was eliminate the spread of HIV in NSW by 2020.