Search for a Cure!

OraQuick ADVANCE^® Rapid HIV-1/2 test is cool.  Using a swab of saliva you can find out preliminary test results in 20 minutes to test if you have antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2.  Sometimes the test gives a false positve.  So if it says you are positive, you have to get a confirmatory viral load test.  It does not give false negatives, so if it says you are negative then you are not presenting any HIV-1/2 antibodies.  It may be the case that you are so recently infected that your body has not generated any antibodies, so testing frequently is advised. 

Though we think it is a great step that we will be deregulating the sale of these tests and making them available over the counter to the public,  Search For A Cure is concerned about making sure this distribution is done in a way that considers their public health impacts.  We need to ensure that the role out includes: helping people understand what the test reults mean, helping people understand how to use them appropriately, how to not freak out and to do something rash if the test result is positive, having a complimentary system paralling the role out to connect people to services and care, and of course supplementing the tests and their distribution in a way that makes them affordable (aka free) to income limited persons and approachable (aka accessibly discrete) for those who are concerned with concealing their sexual activities for reasons which are not our business. 

We will be sure to be in contact with our legislators and public health representatives during the release of these tests into our community, and we are very hopeful about the prospects.  See more details in the full article by clicking read more.