The first rapid home-testing kit for H.I.V. has just gone on sale for $40, marketed as a way for people to find out privately if they have the virus that causes AIDS.
But some experts and advocates say that another use, unadvertised, for the OraQuick test — to screen potential sexual partners — may become equally popular and even help slow an epidemic stuck at 50,000 new infections each year in the United States.
There are reasons to think that screening might make a difference. Studies have found that a significant minority of people who are H.I.V.-positive either lie about their status or keep it secret, infecting unsuspecting partners.
And though the manufacturer, OraSure Technologies, is not promoting the use of the test for screening, 70 percent of the 4,000 men and women in the company’s clinical trials said they would either definitely or very likely use it that way. Full story here!
There are reasons to think that screening might make a difference. Studies have found that a significant minority of people who are H.I.V.-positive either lie about their status or keep it secret, infecting unsuspecting partners.
And though the manufacturer, OraSure Technologies, is not promoting the use of the test for screening, 70 percent of the 4,000 men and women in the company’s clinical trials said they would either definitely or very likely use it that way. Full story here!
5 comments:
Yes
First of all, it can take several weeks to months for antibodies to develop after a person is infected with HIV, so a negative test is never a "real time" indication that one is HIV negative. And a positive test requires an additional, different, confirmatory test. The OraSure Website states: "Warnings & Precautions: A positive result with this test does not mean that you are definitely infected with HIV, but rather that additional testing should be done in a medical setting.
A negative result with this test does not mean that you are definitely not infected with HIV, particularly when exposure may have been within the previous 3 months.
If your test is negative and you engage in activities that put you at risk for HIV on a regular basis, you should test regularly.
This product should not be used to make decisions on behavior that may put you at increased risk for HIV."
Secondly, the idea of testing a potential sex partner - someone you don't know well or just met - is about as likely to happen as ... use your own metaphor.
Third, nothing is a substitute for safe(er) sex.
Fourth, this is a good time to re-watch the movie "jeffry" with Steven Weber and Patrick Stewart. I think it's on Youtube.
Someone who is HIV+ and on medication which stops the viral load from increasing plus surpresses it means that this test will result in a negative result thus not proving what one thinks.
If you have reason to believe a "prospective sex partner" is dishonest about his HIV status, you need to engage the brain to take charge (rather than the head south of the Mason-Dixon line) and move on. Of course, given the typical gay man waits about what, 30 minutes (?), after meeting a hot guy before he trying to get into his pants, well, no wonder HIV has been so successful at decimating an entire sub culture. Enough with vilifying far right politicians. You've been sleeping with the enemy all along and he can seen whenever you look in the mirror.
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