Today (25 June) is HIV Testing Day, a day in the US to recognise and address the ongoing disparities related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the importance of knowing your status, and learning about HIV prevention and treatment.

This day serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing battle against HIV and the importance of awareness, education, and support for those affected.

In the fight against HIV, testing plays a pivotal role.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, leading data and analytics company GlobalData noted a drop in HIV test sales and focus due to a huge focus on Covid-19 testing.

However, public health initiatives, increased awareness, and accessible testing facilities contribute to increased HIV testing.

According to GlobalData’s HIV Tests 2023-2033 market model, the market value increased by 1.86% from 2015-2023, from $1.37bn to $1.59bn, with the global market valuing more than $2bn by 2033.

Based on this GlobalData report, Roche holds the largest market share globally at 14.6%, Abbott comes in second with 11.9%, and Siemens Healthineers is third with 9.2%.

Orasure, the parent company of Oraquick, is an important player to watch in HIV testing as it provides the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved rapid HIV self-test currently available in the US market.

A positive test result would still require a follow-up test with traditional testing methods for confirmation, HIV enzyme immunoassay/enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, tests and HIV nucleic acid amplification tests.

In the realm of HIV testing, perceptions of prejudice and judgment drive individuals to seek the comfort and safety of home for conducting tests.

Thus having private testing options may incentivise at-risk individuals to test more frequently.

Understanding someone's HIV status empowers people to make informed health decisions and protect both themselves and their loved ones.

Early detection facilitates timely medical intervention, leading to improved health outcomes.

Furthermore, being aware of their HIV-positive status enables individuals to take proactive measures to prevent the transmission of the virus to others.