It's National HIV Testing Week, and people all over the country are being encouraged to get tested for health, for safety - and for free.
Many people have no idea how simple it is to get tested for HIV - but the process could not be easier, as people can order free testing packs online to be delivered to the comfort of their own homes.
The tests, which are small enough to fit through a letterbox, come complete with a lab card, a blood tube, sanitary wipes, plasters, lancets and a plastic envelope. All you have to do is use the lancet - which contains a small, spring-loaded blade - to make a tiny wound in your finger, and collect the resulting blood in the tube.
READ MORE: School's apology to parents in full after 'pizza taken from pupils' plates'
Afterwards, place the tube and the lab card inside the plastic envelope and pop it into any Royal Mail mailbox. It will be delivered to a laboratory for testing, and the results sent to you by text.
Ant Hopkinson, of Liverpool HIV charity Sahir House, said: "There's a number of reasons why National HIV Testing Week is so important. Number one is to normalise such conversations. We want to get to a place where testing is a normal part of people's everyday health maintenance, like appointments with a dentist or GP.
"Anyone who is sexually active should be tested, regardless of gender or sexuality. We've seen a marked increase in people who are straight and cis being diagnosed with HIV, so it can impact anyone and everyone. 49% of new diagnoses now affect straight people, and that's an even split between men and women.
"The national campaign this year, I Test, is giving a real push to make sure all parts of our communities are represented."
National HIV Testing Week returns each year with the aim of reducing the number of people with undiagnosed HIV, and raising awareness of the importance of regular testing, both for at-risk communities and the general population.
While new HIV diagnoses have continued to fall in the UK, late diagnoses remain high, with 42% of people diagnosed in England in 2020 being diagnosed late, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
People diagnosed late are seven times more likely to die within a year of finding out they had the virus. But people who catch HIV early can expect to live a normal life span with proper medical treatment, which can reduce the viral load (the amount of HIV in the blood) enough to be undetectable.
This means they cannot pass on the virus. A landmark 2016 study of 58,000 couples made up of one HIV+ person and one HIV negative person found that, when the HIV+ partner was on effective treatment, there were zero cases of HIV transmission.
Ant added: "This week also allows us to highlight how easy it is to test now. We have oral swabs which are just as easy as a Covid-19 test, or a pinprick test, and depending on what you use you could have results within minutes.
"We're also using this week to try to promote conversations about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), which reduces the risk of catching HIV. As well as having tests to know your status, it's a great opportunity to explain what you can do to protect yourself."
READ NEXT
Pupils stage protest as 'strictest headteacher in Britain' brought in to Liverpool school
Convicted killer said "I've done it before” while threatening neighbour with a sword
Killers call judge a 'tw*t' and throw water as they're jailed for 229 years
Liverpool FC legend Steven Gerrard issues proud message as daughter shows off achievement
