By Lee Hui Chieh

FOUR more clinics will begin offering anonymous tests for the virus that causes Aids.

This is part of an effort to limit the spread of the disease, which infected a record number of people last year. This will bring the total number of clinics that offer such human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tests to seven.

Those who go for the tests do not have to disclose names or identification numbers, and is meant to encourage people at risk of being infected with HIV to go for testing early, the Health Ministry said yesterday.

It noted that early detection and treatment can help delay the development of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (Aids) and improve patients' quality of life.

Early diagnosis can also help control the spread of the infection, the ministry said. Studies have shown that those who know they are infected will take steps to protect their partners.

The clinics will start offering the tests tomorrow.

In the first six months of this year, 154 people here were diagnosed with HIV, 11 fewer than the same period last year. Overall, a record 423 people were infected last year.

The number of anonymous HIV tests has increased from 5,639 in 2005, to 8,251 last year.

The proportion of HIV patients who were diagnosed only after developing Aids dipped from 58 per cent in 2006, to 53 per cent last year.

Anonymous HIV testing made its debut here in 1991 in a Kelantan Lane clinic run by the Action For Aids (AFA) activist group. It was extended to two general practitioner (GP) clinics in June 2006.

The four additional GP clinics were chosen because their doctors were experienced in doing the rapid HIV tests used for anonymous testing, a ministry spokesman said. If demand grows, more clinics will be allowed to offer anonymous HIV testing.

A rapid HIV test, which takes about 20 minutes, cost about $20 at the AFA clinic. This includes consultation fees. Rates are between $40 and $58 at the GP clinics.

Two doctors from the latest batch of clinics, Dr Martin Lam of M Lam Clinic and Dr Lim Jiun Jye of Dr Jay Medical Centre, said they hoped to detect HIV patients early through anonymous testing and help them get life-prolonging treatment. They expect two to five people a week will ask for the tests.

Dr Lim said: 'The main centre will still be the AFA clinic. We are just helping.

'For people who cannot sleep because they are worried that they might have been infected, and the AFA clinic is closed, I am happy to do the test for them.'

huichieh@sph.com.sg

Where to go for checks

Existing clinics

1. Action for Aids Anonymous HIV Testing & Counselling Clinic
Located at: Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Clinic, 31 Kelantan Lane, #01-16

Call: 6254-0212

2. Anteh Dispensary
Located at: 368 Geylang Road

Call: 6744-1809

3. Cambridge Clinic
Located at: Block 333, Kreta Ayer Road, #03-27

Call: 6327-1252

New clinics

1. Dr Jay Medical Centre
Located at: 115 Killiney Road

Call: 6235-5196

2. Dr Soh Family Clinic
Located at: Block 966, Jurong West Street 93, #01-219

Call: 6791-7735

3. M Lam Clinic
Located at: 739 Geylang Road

Call: 6748-1949

4. Robertson Medical Practice
Located at: 11 Unity Street, #02-07, Robertson Walk

Call: 6238-7810

This story was first published in The Straits Times on Oct 31, 2008.

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