FORUMS > HIV/AIDS Forum Rules

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-07-03/lifestyle/sns-rt-us-orasure-fdabre8620un-20120703_1_douglas-michels-orasure-negative-result

interesting option to possibly reduce HIV transmission. Available at major pharmacies starting in October.

The article is from early July, haha.
Brilliant nonetheless.

U can bring one on a date with u along with a condom

I wonder how the television ad's are gonna show this. Interesting.

Neight saidThe article is from early July, haha.
Brilliant nonetheless.

Yeah, I started a thread about this back then. Some guys here debated against the idea of an OTC test.

Art_Deco said

Neight saidThe article is from early July, haha.
Brilliant nonetheless.

Yeah, I started a thread about this back then. Some guys here debated against the idea of an OTC test.

my apologies i didn't see it. but yeah it does raise the question of will the reduce other prophylaxsis use.

ManishVegas said

Art_Deco said

Neight saidThe article is from early July, haha.
Brilliant nonetheless.

Yeah, I started a thread about this back then. Some guys here debated against the idea of an OTC test.

my apologies i didn't see it. but yeah it does raise the question of will the reduce other prophylaxsis use.

Among questions raised is whether home users will misunderstand the results. If the FDA-approved OraQuick mouth swab returns a negative, will the individuals think it's OK to have unprotected sex immediately? Because it won't be.

The test indicates the HIV status of anywhere from 3 to 6 months PRIOR to the test, due to the natural delay in the body's production of antigens in response to the presence of HIV. The OraQuick test detects those antigens and so is telling you what your HIV status was 3 months ago, not what it is today.

A person could have been infected during those 3 months immediately prior to the test, be HIV poz and capable of infecting others, yet the test will return a negative result, because the antigens will not have developed yet. Testing at home, outside a clinical environment where professionals would explain this, could lead to this fatal misunderstanding of what the test is really reporting. This 3 to 6-month interval is referred to as the testing window or blackout period, during which HIV cannot be detected but can still be present.

Another issue concerns getting a positive result. There will be no trained counselors available at home, as there presumably would at a testing center, to inform the person of their treatment options, and to give psychological support at this difficult time.

The OraSure company has said they will maintain a toll-free phone number for that purpose, but critics contend that will be inadequate for some individuals. Leading in worst cases to suicidal acts.

I understand the way people can misinterpret the results but that can happen with the regular blood test as well.
Over the counter will be great for guys who feel uncomfortable going to a HIV clinic or asking their doctor to do one for them. Hopefully it will make the process of getting tested regularly more common among gay men.

asnextdoor saidI understand the way people can misinterpret the results but that can happen with the regular blood test as well.
Over the counter will be great for guys who feel uncomfortable going to a HIV clinic or asking their doctor to do one for them. Hopefully it will make the process of getting tested regularly more common among gay men.

That's why I support the FDA approval of the OraQuick HIV test. There are pros & cons, but most health care professionals agree that testing is an essential component in reducing the spread of HIV.

We already know that testing rates are low, a key stumbling block being the mandatory reporting of names of positive HIV individuals to State health agencies. This misguided legislation was passed in many States during the early days of the AIDS crisis, despite health professionals warning that such policies would reduce HIV detection and treatment, thereby increasing the epidemic. This view has been proven correct.

A home test offers the ultimate in confidentiality. Even some test sites that claim confidentiality are in effect lying. The test is confidential to take, but the results become non-confidential and will be reported if the finding is positive.

Therefore a home test may increase total numbers of HIV testing, which should be the goal. What remains to be seen is whether the cost will be a deterrent. The same OraQuick mouth swab test is offered for free at many test sites, some in mobile vans. But the trade-off for free can be loss of confidentiality, and the testing rate even when free is still lower than desired.

Only time will tell if this results in more HIV testing. A difficult proposition, perhaps indirectly inferred by the number of kits sold, versus the number of tests given by traditional means, assuming that is accurately tracked. And will the home kits cause a decrease in clinical tests, creating a wash?

The company that makes this, OSUR, is a great investment if u are willing to hold the stock 2+ years.. has pulled back from its post-approval price, def has a lot of room to grow when the sales start rolling in.

The market does not seem that enthusiastic about the sales OraQuick will generate, and i think they will be much stronger than analysts think, unlike a company like ARNA where high sales of their recently approved diet pill are already priced in to the stock to a greater extent than OSUR.

FYI, this is now for sale OTC:

http://www.oraquick.com/where-to-buy

You can test as much as you want to, but you're still going to wear a condom, lol.

brendanmuscles saidThe company that makes this, OSUR, is a great investment if u are willing to hold the stock 2+ years.. has pulled back from its post-approval price, def has a lot of room to grow when the sales start rolling in.

The market does not seem that enthusiastic about the sales OraQuick will generate, and i think they will be much stronger than analysts think, unlike a company like ARNA where high sales of their recently approved diet pill are already priced in to the stock to a greater extent than OSUR.

Company based in Bethlehem PA.

Can anyone report what costs for the tests they are seeing. I haven't found the test available here.

ART_DECO saidCan anyone report what costs for the tests they are seeing. I haven't found the test available here.

$39.99 at a Rite Aid near my home on Saturday