OraQuick—the only rapid test licensed to scan both oral floods and blood for HIV—failed to detect at least 8 percent of 133 people who tested positive with a comparable diagnostic. OraQuick’s label says the test’s rate of failure is only 0.7 percent.
This report is the third since June 16 that affirms that OraQuick’s results are less accurate than the label claims. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked the manufacturer to investigate the test’s false results."
If you are relying on this method when getting your HIV test results, please get a blood draw too.
I met a guy that had the oral test done and it came back positive. He told me this and then after looking at his profile again it said he was negative. So I asked him and he said after he had his first blood draw to determine viral load and T cell count there was nothing there. So they did a traditional blood test on him and the results came back negative.
He must have went through hell and back with that one.
muchmorethanmuscle saidI met a guy that had the oral test done and it came back positive. He told me this and then after looking at his profile again it said he was negative. So I asked him and he said after he had his first blood draw to determine viral load and T cell count there was nothing there. So they did a traditional blood test on him and the results came back negative.
He must have went through hell and back with that one.
We perform the OraQuick for free at our local GLBT community center, and persons with positive test results are advised that since false positives are possible, and that they should now take a follow-up blood test.
We advise them how to get one, including those times when our own center offers them, as well (though not as frequently as the OraQuick).
False negatives are naturally disturbing, and I hope this issue gets quickly resolved. I take both the OraQuick every 6 months, and a blood test at least annually.
