Officials at
the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center said Thursday they will
stop using the oral version of the rapid OraQuick HIV test
due to growing concerns about its reliability.
In November, 13 people who took the oral test at
the center falsely registered as HIV-positive. Clinics
in San Francisco and New York have also reported large
numbers of false positives with the popular test.
Those who registered as HIV-positive with the
oral test were immediately retested with a different
diagnostic, as is the case with all preliminary HIV
tests, to determine their actual status. The wait for the
results from a confirmatory test, however, can be agonizing.
"If the public loses confidence in the
reliability of HIV tests, they're just going to stop
testing, and we can't allow that to happen," said
Quentin O'Brien, director of the center's health and
mental health services. "Fortunately, we've noticed no
irregularities with the rapid finger-stick test and
have already been successful in convincing clients to
opt for that test now."
The L.A. center provides an average of 800 free
HIV tests each month and has offered clients two
options for rapid testing: the OraQuick oral test and
the OraQuick finger-stick test. Clients also have the option
of taking the OraSure oral test and the traditional
blood test, both of which deliver results in seven
days. Since the rapid oral test is the least invasive
and delivers results in about 20 minutes, it is the
favorite of about 80% of those who test at the center. HIV
testing counselors will now suggest the OraQuick
finger-stick test, which tests a drop of blood rather
than oral material but also delivers results in 20 minutes.
In Los Angeles there are an estimated 15,000
people who are unaware they are HIV-positive.
(Advocate.com)
Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter.
Page 1 of 1