The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first over-the-counter HIV test called The OraQuick test. It detects the presence of HIV in saliva collected using a mouth swab, returning a result within 20 to 40 minutes. The FDA stressed with the release of this test that it is NOT 100% accurate. According to research, it correctly detected those carrying the HIV virus 92% of the time, and correctly detected those not carrying the virus 99% of the time. People who tested negative should get re-tested after 3 months as it takes several weeks for detectable antibodies to appear. This test will begin selling in October through retailers, including Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart, as well as online pharmacies. The price has not yet been announced, but seems to be hovering in the range of $20-$60.
For more information: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/04/hiv-take-home-test-us
Love,
ALPHA
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