By MONICA KAYOMBO in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A RELATIVELY new HIV urine-based self-test, which has now been introduced to the Zambian market, is expected to revolutionise HIV testing by making it easier, painless and more private for people to know their HIV status.
Manufactured by Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Company Limited, the innovative HIV urine self-test was introduced to the Zambian market less than a month ago after receiving local registration. The technology is among the latest innovations being showcased at the ongoing 2026 International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where scientists, policymakers and civil society are discussing ways of strengthening the global HIV response under the conference theme, Rethink. Rebuild. Rise.
Since HIV was first identified more than four decades ago, several methods have been developed to determine whether an individual is HIV positive. These include laboratory-based blood tests, rapid finger-prick blood tests, oral fluid HIV self-tests and other diagnostic tests conducted at health facilities.
Although these testing methods have significantly contributed to the fight against HIV by enabling millions of people to know their status, many individuals have remained reluctant to get tested because they are required to visit health facilities where trained healthcare workers collect blood samples or supervise the testing process.
Fear of stigma and discrimination has also remained a barrier. In some communities, concerns have been raised over breaches of confidentiality, with some people alleging that individuals entrusted with conducting HIV tests have failed to keep patients’ results private, discouraging others from coming forward for testing.
The new urine-based HIV self-test seeks to address some of these challenges by allowing individuals to test themselves discreetly in the comfort of their homes without using blood or needles.
Speaking in an interview on July 28 on the sidelines of the conference, Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Company Limited International Business Director for the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia, Bing Hou, said the new technology is designed to simplify HIV testing while maintaining accuracy.
“You can see the HIV urine-based self-test. It is much easier to run compared to a blood test.
It is non-invasive and harmless. In just six steps, you can get the result in 15 minutes,” Mr Hou said.
He explained that unlike conventional blood-based HIV tests, the kit requires only a urine sample.
“Just collect urine and add three drops to the cassette. There is no buffer and no blood sample needed, just the urine sample. Within 15 minutes, you can read the result,” he said.
Mr Hou said the self-test can be performed entirely at home, making it particularly suitable for people who fear needles or are uncomfortable visiting health facilities for HIV testing.
“You can do this test at home. There is no need for people to go to the hospital laboratory to run the test. It is much easier, especially for people who fear needles used in blood testing,” he said.
The urine self-test is used in a manner similar to a home pregnancy test, making it simple and convenient for users to perform the procedure themselves.
According to Mr Hou, the product entered the international market last year after receiving World Health Organization (WHO) pre-qualification, paving the way for its registration in different countries.
“We launched this product in the international market last year because we obtained WHO pre-qualification. We now work with local distributors who register the product with governments before introducing it into the market,” he said.
He disclosed that Zambia is among the latest countries to register the innovation.
“In Zambia, we received the registration certificate two weeks ago. We are now working with our distributor and will carry out local validation before introducing the product onto the market,” Mr. Hou said.
He expressed optimism that the urine-based self-test would encourage more people to know their HIV status because it is painless, non-invasive and easy to use.
However, while the innovation has been welcomed as a major step forward in expanding access to HIV testing, participants at the conference say it also raises important questions about what happens after someone tests positive at home.
One of the conference participants from Africa, Evans Mukure, observed that although HIV self-testing enables people to learn their status privately, the real challenge is ensuring that those who receive a reactive result are successfully linked to confirmatory testing, counselling and treatment services.
Mr Mukure noted that for individuals who have long avoided public health facilities because of fear of stigma, discrimination or breaches of confidentiality, access to treatment remains a critical issue that governments and healthcare providers must address.
He said innovations such as the urine-based HIV self-test have enormous potential to improve HIV testing uptake, but their success will ultimately depend on strong systems that ensure people who test positive are not lost before receiving life-saving treatment and care.
The discussion mirrors one of the key conversations taking place throughout the AIDS 2026 Conference, where delegates are exploring how scientific innovations can be translated into improved health outcomes for communities most affected by HIV.
As countries embrace new technologies that make HIV testing simpler and more accessible, experts say equal attention must be paid to reducing stigma, safeguarding confidentiality and ensuring that everyone who tests positive is promptly linked to confirmatory testing, antiretroviral therapy and long-term care.
For many delegates attending AIDS 2026, the urine-based HIV self-test represents not only another technological breakthrough but also an opportunity to rethink how HIV services can become more accessible, people-centred and stigma-free. The challenge now, they say, is ensuring that every person who uses the self-test is supported throughout the journey from diagnosis to treatment and viral suppression.
