FDA Approved In-Home HIV Test Gives Results in Minutes
By: Sujata Khandelwal
Updated: October 26, 2012
FREDERICK, MD- Thirty-four-year-old Tony Moore was diagnosed with HIV more than a decade ago.
"It took me for a little spin, hearing that diagnosis and receiving that diagnosis."
However, he says hearing the diagnosis from a doctor made it a little easier. He fears those taking the in-home HIV test won't have the same support.
"Ultimately, I don't think it's a good idea. In my case, I couldn't see being diagnosed or self-diagnosed at home with no direction afterwards."
The test, which provides results in 20 minutes, was designed to encourage more people to get tested.
"I think the ball is in the air, and we really don't know what's going to happen with this home test," says Deborah Anne, an AIDS certified registered nurse at the Frederick County Health Department.
Health professionals say the home test is 99.6 percent to 99.7 percent accurate so if the results are positive, one should get to a hospital or clinic as soon as possible.
Anne says the test is only a screening test. She encourages supplemental testing and counseling immediately.
"To be told that you have a disease that could take your life, a disease that you could pass on to someone else, a disease for which you will be judged and discriminated against," says Anne. "It's a very devastating diagnosis."
"It took me for a little spin, hearing that diagnosis and receiving that diagnosis."
However, he says hearing the diagnosis from a doctor made it a little easier. He fears those taking the in-home HIV test won't have the same support.
"Ultimately, I don't think it's a good idea. In my case, I couldn't see being diagnosed or self-diagnosed at home with no direction afterwards."
The test, which provides results in 20 minutes, was designed to encourage more people to get tested.
"I think the ball is in the air, and we really don't know what's going to happen with this home test," says Deborah Anne, an AIDS certified registered nurse at the Frederick County Health Department.
Health professionals say the home test is 99.6 percent to 99.7 percent accurate so if the results are positive, one should get to a hospital or clinic as soon as possible.
Anne says the test is only a screening test. She encourages supplemental testing and counseling immediately.
"To be told that you have a disease that could take your life, a disease that you could pass on to someone else, a disease for which you will be judged and discriminated against," says Anne. "It's a very devastating diagnosis."
