GDCC hosting June BBV event
In response to an increase in HIV cases, Glasgow Drug Centre introduced the provision of Dry Blood Spot Testing for Blood Borne Viruses at the end of 2016.
Glasgow Drug Crisis Centre is ideally placed to offer testing as an extension of their current Injecting Equipment Provision (IEP) service. Staff are trained and experienced in engaging with a range people who inject and effective working relationships have been established with clients, who are often repeat attendees.
Participants are offered a confidential service with support through the process. Interventions provided include; discussion of current injecting behaviours, safer injecting advice, provision of injecting equipment and promotion of and referral to other services.
The addition of this service is seen as a crucial intervention in addressing the increase in HIV cases amongst the drug injecting population.
This additional service is viewed positively with staff actively promoting it to all who present at GDCC. Since commencement, there has been around 200 tests facilitated.
Along with SDF and NHS, GDCC are hosting an event on Wednesday 7th June to promote a new HIV resource and offer drop-in information sessions on BBV.