Point of care HIV testing in NHS Healthchecks

The service will be activity-led and the supplier will provide HIV POCT to 32 GP practices delivering NHS Healthchecks in Southwark. Approximately 6,000 healthchecks are delivered in Southwark per year across these 32 GP practices. It is estimated that there will be a 50% uptake of HIV testing in the healthchecks, therefore approximately 3,000 HIV POCT will be required over a year or 250 a month, however there may be more or less depending on uptake.

Orders will be made by GP practice managers via the supplier's website or ordering system, for example excel spreadsheet form which is completed by GP practice managers with the requested number of HIV POCT. The supplier will invoice Southwark Council for payment of the HIV POCT.

The supplier will be expected to provide information on quality control requirements and training on how to store and use the POCT to GP practices. Each GP practice will conduct their own quality control tests based on how often this is required as per the test standards. Any enquiries about the HIV POCT will be answered by the supplier.

The commissioners will monitor the activity and receive monthly reports from the supplier of the activity data from each GP practice to ensure the budget is not exceeded and sites are delivering as expected.

The service is expected to be mobilised as quickly as possible, with shipping of the first batch of HIV POCT to GP practices by 29 April 2025 the latest. The NHS Healthchecks with HIV POCT will begin on 5 May 2025.

Additional information:

N/A