ANONYMOUS HIV testing is to be introduced in Jersey by the end of the year.
The news follows the latest fears expressed by ACET, the local Aids charity, who are concerned about the growing number of young people being diagnosed with HIV.
Health Minister Ben Shenton (pictured) has announced that the so called unlinked anonymised testing (UAT) will be up and running by December.
Blood samples taken from patients aged 16 to 60 will be automatically tested for HIV and hepatitis C unless the patient specifically withholds his or her permission for the test. However, if the samples test positive for the potentially fatal diseases, the patients will not be told because the testing is being carried out anonymously and the testers will have no way of knowing who the patient is.
