Rapid saliva HIV test rejected by Australian experts

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 28 Mar 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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The Victorian AIDS Council says a rapid saliva test for HIV that has just been approved for use in the United States should not be considered for Australia.

The US Health Department says the test gives a result within 20 minutes with 99 per cent accuracy.

Victorian AIDS Council executive director Mike Kennedy says Australia decided against using rapid testing technology about 18 months ago.

He says the technology then used a blood sample from a finger prick, rather than a saliva swab but also gave results in about 20 minutes.

Mr Kennedy says the technology gives a high false-positive rate, meaning it has to be confirmed by standard testing anyway.

"In Australia we've got a relatively small epidemic - about 600 to 800 people a year - compared to say the US, which has about 40,000 diagnoses a year," Mr Kennedy said.

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