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New HIV test not available

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An oral test for HIV, the virus the causes AIDS, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration Friday, but local officials say it might be awhile before the test is available locally.

An oral test for HIV, the virus the causes AIDS, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration Friday, but local officials say it might be awhile before the test is available locally.The Associated Press reported the new OraQuick test employs a treated cotton swab that is wiped along the gums and then tested. The test gives results in 20 minutes.Janis Goedeke of the Crawford County Health Department said her agency offers an oral test that takes a week for results. She said it will be awhile before the 20-minute test is available at the health department.”I think it might help some people who want the results that day,” she said. “The oral test (currently offered at the health department) brings in a few more than the test that has to draw blood.”The new test will provide faster results for people who are afraid of needles.”For those people who are leery of needles, we have an oral test now,” she said. “The only thing is you do not get the results in 20 minutes. We have to send it off.”Dr. James Smith, director of laboratory services at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center, said the test is not something the hospital would be interested in using. The hospital currently uses a 20-minute blood test that allows rapid results if needed.”Perhaps in a clinical setting it would work better,” he said. “Where I think they are targeting this is in the public health clinic setting where it may be more convenient to collect an oral specimen than a blood specimen.”Smith added that in many circumstances the hospital already has a blood sample from the patient, so an oral test is not needed.Moreover, Smith said that while many of the blood and oral tests are effective as screening devices, they sometimes give false positives and an additional test to confirm the positive result is needed.Local officials also say that although these tests are a great way to get people in for testing, AIDS education is more important.”More important than the test is to get the education out there for people to get tested,” Goedeke said.(Source: Associated Press International, March 2004)


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Dates

Posted On: 29 March, 2004
Modified On: 5 December, 2013


Created by: myVMC