For the treatment of any disease whether it is a major disease or a minor one, the most important thing is its diagnosis. Without diagnosis, we cannot think about the treatment, as before that we must know what the problem actually is. Technology has made everything so easy for us that we can diagnose many disorders and problems sitting at our home. It may be a minor fever to a major, blood pressure or diabetes. Many Pregnancy test kits are also available that confirm whether a woman is pregnant or not without visiting the doctor. However, it is important to visit the doctor for a confirmed diagnosis or treatment. But when it comes to a sexual disease, many people hesitate to visit the doctor. AIDS is also an STD in which no cure has been found yet. Also, there are many misconceptions related to this disease. So generally when people come to know that a particular person is HIV positive, they tend to avoid that person. This is one more reason people try to avoid the doctor to get their disease diagnosed. But now the time and situation both have been changed. OraQuick In-Home HIV Test is here to help these people, who do not want to go out of their home to get their disease diagnosed. Using OraQuick test kit anyone can check whether he/she is HIV positive or not, right at home.
The U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) have approved the first rapid test to detect HIV antibodies. This approval has been granted on July 3, 2012. This test may be done at home. A Bethlehem based company OraSure Technologies Inc. has made this HIV test. This marks the first FDA approval for a quick, over-the-counter diagnostic test that screens for contagious disease. As per the Government officials, nearly 240,000 people or 20 percent of the roughly 1.2 million people carry HIV in the U.S., without knowing that they are infected. Testing is a major means of slowing down new infections, which have held constant at about 50,000 every year for 20 years.
The OraQuick test allows a person to collect an oral fluid (saliva) sample by swabbing the upper and lower gums in the mouth. These saliva samples are then placed into a developer vial to detect the presence of HIV antibodies. This test gives results within 20 to 40 minutes. After this short time interval, if a single line shows up then it is a negative result whereas two lines means a positive result of the test. Earlier, the HIV tests required the patients to prick their fingers and send a blood sample to the lab. A positive result may not always mean that the person is definitely HIV positive. So FDA stresses on an additional testing that must be confirmed by a health-care professional. Also, a negative test result does not mean that the person is surely not HIV infected. It can take several weeks for detectable HIV antibodies to emerge. So, those who get a negative test result should get re-tested after a period of 3 months.
Clinical studies for self testing have revealed that the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test has an estimated performance of 92% for test sensitivity. It is the percentage of positive results when HIV antibodies are present. It means that one fake negative result may be expected out of every 12 test results in actually HIV positive people. Studies have also exposed that this test kit has an expected performance of 99.98 percent for test accuracy. It is the percentage of negative results when HIV antibodies are absent. This means that one fake positive result may be expected out of every 5,000 test results in actually HIV negative people.
The OraQuick In-Home HIV test, has now been approved for people who are 17 years of age or older. It is supposed to be available in 30,000 pharmaceutical, grocery and retail stores throughout the US by October. It will be available on the online stores as well. The original cost of the test kit for customers is not known yet. Presently the professional version is being sold for $17.50 for each test. However, consumers should expect the test kit to be more expensive than the professional version. The reasons for the added cost may include the packaging costs, advertisements to high-risk groups and setup of a 24-hour resource phone line. But eventually, prices will be set by retailers. The final price is expected to be kept relatively reasonable to encourage testing.
This test kit is a symbolic triumph in the attempt to thwart the spread of AIDS. However, the details need to be sorted out. Having access to an easy-to-use test kit at home will bring about faster and more diagnoses, so one may get more effective treatment. OraSure is dedicated to provide OraQuick® In-Home HIV consumers with widespread resources and support. Each test kit contains thorough information on HIV and HIV testing with step-by-step directions on how to use the OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test kit.
There will be a ‘live’ toll-free customer support center that has been staffed with bi-lingual (Spanish /English) representatives who will be available on toll free telephone number (866-436-6527) to answer questions regarding HIV/AIDS. They will also describe how to use the test kit, understand the results and provide direct referral to care when needed. The support center representatives are available 24 x 7 all year. These representatives will be working from July 9, 2012. Apart from the support center, a comprehensive website will also be launched so that the customers can access to resources and get referral to follow-up counseling and medical care. This website will be launched as soon as the test kit becomes available.
Video of FDA has approved Home HIV Test Kit from youtube:
The U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) have approved the first rapid test to detect HIV antibodies. This approval has been granted on July 3, 2012. This test may be done at home. A Bethlehem based company OraSure Technologies Inc. has made this HIV test. This marks the first FDA approval for a quick, over-the-counter diagnostic test that screens for contagious disease. As per the Government officials, nearly 240,000 people or 20 percent of the roughly 1.2 million people carry HIV in the U.S., without knowing that they are infected. Testing is a major means of slowing down new infections, which have held constant at about 50,000 every year for 20 years.
The OraQuick test allows a person to collect an oral fluid (saliva) sample by swabbing the upper and lower gums in the mouth. These saliva samples are then placed into a developer vial to detect the presence of HIV antibodies. This test gives results within 20 to 40 minutes. After this short time interval, if a single line shows up then it is a negative result whereas two lines means a positive result of the test. Earlier, the HIV tests required the patients to prick their fingers and send a blood sample to the lab. A positive result may not always mean that the person is definitely HIV positive. So FDA stresses on an additional testing that must be confirmed by a health-care professional. Also, a negative test result does not mean that the person is surely not HIV infected. It can take several weeks for detectable HIV antibodies to emerge. So, those who get a negative test result should get re-tested after a period of 3 months.
Clinical studies for self testing have revealed that the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test has an estimated performance of 92% for test sensitivity. It is the percentage of positive results when HIV antibodies are present. It means that one fake negative result may be expected out of every 12 test results in actually HIV positive people. Studies have also exposed that this test kit has an expected performance of 99.98 percent for test accuracy. It is the percentage of negative results when HIV antibodies are absent. This means that one fake positive result may be expected out of every 5,000 test results in actually HIV negative people.
The OraQuick In-Home HIV test, has now been approved for people who are 17 years of age or older. It is supposed to be available in 30,000 pharmaceutical, grocery and retail stores throughout the US by October. It will be available on the online stores as well. The original cost of the test kit for customers is not known yet. Presently the professional version is being sold for $17.50 for each test. However, consumers should expect the test kit to be more expensive than the professional version. The reasons for the added cost may include the packaging costs, advertisements to high-risk groups and setup of a 24-hour resource phone line. But eventually, prices will be set by retailers. The final price is expected to be kept relatively reasonable to encourage testing.
This test kit is a symbolic triumph in the attempt to thwart the spread of AIDS. However, the details need to be sorted out. Having access to an easy-to-use test kit at home will bring about faster and more diagnoses, so one may get more effective treatment. OraSure is dedicated to provide OraQuick® In-Home HIV consumers with widespread resources and support. Each test kit contains thorough information on HIV and HIV testing with step-by-step directions on how to use the OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test kit.
There will be a ‘live’ toll-free customer support center that has been staffed with bi-lingual (Spanish /English) representatives who will be available on toll free telephone number (866-436-6527) to answer questions regarding HIV/AIDS. They will also describe how to use the test kit, understand the results and provide direct referral to care when needed. The support center representatives are available 24 x 7 all year. These representatives will be working from July 9, 2012. Apart from the support center, a comprehensive website will also be launched so that the customers can access to resources and get referral to follow-up counseling and medical care. This website will be launched as soon as the test kit becomes available.
Video of FDA has approved Home HIV Test Kit from youtube:
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