Home Hiv Test Kit
Home HIV test kit
Globally, there are 34 million people living with HIV and epidemic continues worldwide. Diagnosis and subsequent positive preventions are key factor in controlling epidemic. In spite of availability of variety of HIV tests, test acceptance rate varies region to region. For instance, American CDC estimates that almost 20% of HIV-positive individuals do not know their status. There are several factors behind this. Some of them are being afraid of knowing true sero status, being ashamed to go to the clinic for the test, some underestimate the risk of being HIV infected and lack of knowledge. There are a set of diagnosis tests which can detect presence of HIV in body. PCR tests can detect HIV RNA in 2 weeks. ELISA detects antibody to HIV. Fourth generation EIA can detect both antigen and antibody and window period is shortened. Over time, modifications are made to make the tests more sensitive, specific and more accessible. Home HIV test kits are approved in US. Rapid home-use test can detect antibodies in minutes and it can be bought over the counter. There are pros and cons of new home HIV test kit and there has been much debate to it. There is window period and repeated testing is required. In addition to that, even if it is positive, it needs confirmatory test by western blot. Nevertheless, the wide availability of this test kit will ensure regular testing of HIV among age group between 13 and 64 according to CDC’s recommendation. Positive people will receive medical care quicker by knowing the infections earlier.
Here, it is worth to explore some factors which have impact on people’s decisions to take HIV test. Some of them are preference for anonymity, waiting time in clinic for results and social status.
In a study assessing psychosocial factors associated with HIV testing amongst Scottish Gay men, never having tested was associated with perceiving more problems with clinics and of waiting for test results.1 In another study assessing
Globally, there are 34 million people living with HIV and epidemic continues worldwide. Diagnosis and subsequent positive preventions are key factor in controlling epidemic. In spite of availability of variety of HIV tests, test acceptance rate varies region to region. For instance, American CDC estimates that almost 20% of HIV-positive individuals do not know their status. There are several factors behind this. Some of them are being afraid of knowing true sero status, being ashamed to go to the clinic for the test, some underestimate the risk of being HIV infected and lack of knowledge. There are a set of diagnosis tests which can detect presence of HIV in body. PCR tests can detect HIV RNA in 2 weeks. ELISA detects antibody to HIV. Fourth generation EIA can detect both antigen and antibody and window period is shortened. Over time, modifications are made to make the tests more sensitive, specific and more accessible. Home HIV test kits are approved in US. Rapid home-use test can detect antibodies in minutes and it can be bought over the counter. There are pros and cons of new home HIV test kit and there has been much debate to it. There is window period and repeated testing is required. In addition to that, even if it is positive, it needs confirmatory test by western blot. Nevertheless, the wide availability of this test kit will ensure regular testing of HIV among age group between 13 and 64 according to CDC’s recommendation. Positive people will receive medical care quicker by knowing the infections earlier.
Here, it is worth to explore some factors which have impact on people’s decisions to take HIV test. Some of them are preference for anonymity, waiting time in clinic for results and social status.
In a study assessing psychosocial factors associated with HIV testing amongst Scottish Gay men, never having tested was associated with perceiving more problems with clinics and of waiting for test results.1 In another study assessing
References: 1. Flowers P, Knussen C, Church S. Psychological factors associated with HIV testing amongst Scottish Gay Men. Psychology and Health. 2003; 18(6):739–52. 2. Myers T, Orr KW, Locker D, Jackson EA. Factors Affecting Gay and Bisexual Men 's Decisions and Intentions to Seek HIV Testing. American Journal of Public Health. 1993; 83(5):701-4. 3. Carballo-Diéguez A, Frasca T, Dolezal C, Balan I. Will Gay and Bisexually Active Men at High Risk of Infection Use Over-the-Counter Rapid HIV Tests to Screen Sexual Partners? Journal of Sex Research. 2012; 49(4):379-87. 4. Carballo-Die´guez A, Frasca T, Balan I, Ibitoye M, Dolezal C. Use of a Rapid HIV Home Test Prevents HIV Exposure in a High Risk Sample of Men Who Have Sex With Men. AIDS Behav. 2012; 16:1753–60. 5. Govender RD, Schlebusch L. Suicidal ideation in seropositive patients seen at a South African HIV voluntary counseling and testing clinic. African Journal of Psychiatry 2012; 15(2):pp. 94-8. 6. Moutlon M, Stempel, R. R., Bacchetti, P., Temoshok, L., Moss, A. M. Results of a one-year longitudinal study of HIV antibody test notification from the San Francisco General Hospital cohort. Journal of AIDS. 1991; 4:787-94. 7. NCHHSTP. Innovative CDC Effort Expands HIV Testing into Pharmacies. 2012 June 26; Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/NHTDPressRelease2012.html.