Advantages of a Rapid Oral HIV Test

These new HIV tests are significant for several reasons. The main reason is they may allow for testing of more individuals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 850,000-900,000 Americans have HIV, but nearly one fourth don’t know it. About 40,000 Americans per year become infected with HIV. Among those who get tested, 30% do not return for their results (which are typically available 2 or more weeks after the test is done). At least 8,000 of those people who do not return test positive and do not find out that they are infected.

People give a variety of reasons for not returning for their test results. The frequency of each response depends on the population being tested. The most commonly given reasons include the following:

• Fear of a positive result
  
  
• Lack of transportation
  
  
• Relocating to a new city
  
  
• Belief that they are at low risk for HIV and therefore the result will be negative
  
  
• Fear that their HIV status will be disclosed to someone else

• Providing quick results eliminates the need for people to return to get their results, although positive results must be confirmed by an additional test.
  
  
• An oral test is less dangerous to the tester. With an oral test there is no risk to a healthcare worker of accidentally being pricked by a needle or being exposed to blood. HIV transmission by saliva has never been proven.
  
  
• People who do not like needle sticks or are otherwise afraid of a blood test may decide to be tested.
  
  
• If people know immediately that they are positive for the HIV virus, they can begin to receive treatment sooner and to take steps to prevent transmission of the virus.
  
  
• Unlike blood, oral fluid can be stored at room temperature.
  
  
• The tests do not require specialized equipment.