FDA Approves First Take-Home HIV Test
Well this is dope. The FDA has approved a take-home version of a test that will detect the virus that causes AIDS. Nice.
The OraQuick test from Orasure is designed to detect the presence of HIV using a mouth swab within 20 minutes.
Up to 1 out of 4 people who have HIV don’t know it. Government officials estimate one-fifth, or about 240,000 people, of the 1.2 million HIV carriers in the U.S. are not aware they are infected. Testing is one of the chief means of slowing new infections, which have held steady at about 50,000 per year for two decades.
FDA officials said the test is aimed at people who might not otherwise get tested. The OraQuick test detects the presence of HIV in saliva collected using a mouth swab. The test is designed to return a result within 20 to 40 minutes.
Orasure will launch the test in October in retailers like Walgreens, CVS and Walmart, as well as online pharmacies. The company hasn’t announced a solid price yet, but said it will be less than $60. CEO Doug Michels said the additional cost will help pay for a toll-free call center to provide counseling and medical referrals to test users.
The Wheard: FreddyO
I’m lilD, and that’s the Word Eye Heard. Everyone’s first date should be getting tested anyway.
lilD
Yea...I'm way too lazy to fill this out.