FDA approves oral HIV rapid saliva test 99% accuracy results in 20 minutes

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 27 Mar 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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The FDA has approved a rapid saliva test which gives the result in twenty minutes for the HIV virus. The HIV virus is the one that causes AIDS.

This test is produced by OraSure Technologies Inc. (USA). It is the only rapid saliva test, all others are blood tests.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said "This oral test provides another important option for people who might be afraid of a blood test."

This test has two benefits:

1. More people are likely to take it.

2. The results are very accurate and fast.

A quarter of HIV infected people in the USA do not know they are infected, says the CDC (estimates).

Standard tests take a couple of weeks to get the results. Many people do not go back to check the results.

With this test, the person can wait for a few minutes and find out there and then. If a person tests positive, he or she can start treatment immediately. This will help stem the spread of infection.

Health officials will also benefit because they do not have to handle blood - their risk of being infected is eliminated.

Thompson said that as this device is so quick and accurate it could become invaluable in Africa's quest to beat AIDS. Although no plans are yet in motion to buy this test for distribution in Africa, he said, aid agencies might buy them at some point.

OraSure has two tests. One is a saliva test, the other is a blood test. Both give results in 20 minutes. The oral test detects antibodies to HIV-1. The blood test detects antibodies for HIV-2. The HIV-2 is the common one in Africa.

This new saliva test is simple and straightforward to carry out. The health professional wipes a swab along the gums of the patient, then places it into a liquid in the testing device. If there are HIV antibodies, you can see two reddish-purple lines on the device.

Thompson said this test could eventually be sold as an OTC device in drug stores.

How a patient may react at home to a positive test is something officials will have to consider, especially if it is a false positive.

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