About AIDS

There has been a flurry of news stories lately about newly available HIV tests that provide a result promptly. Unfortunately, don't expect to see them in common use anytime soon, and, as for using it as a self-test, faggeddaboudit.

The first test slated to be FDA approved is OraQuick from OraSure Technologies in Pennsylvania. It's an easy, single-use, finger-prick blood test that can diagnose HIV infection in 20 minutes. Kind of like a pregnancy test, the test strip develops red stripes if HIV antibodies are detected. (One major caveat: HIV antibodies are the body's chemical soldiers that are produced if a person has become HIV-infected; it may take up to three months for the body to make enough to show up.)

The great usefulness of these rapid tests will be eliminating the anxiety period that usually occurs while waiting for the result, perhaps as long as two weeks with more traditional tests. Also, the testee doesn't have to come back: Results are almost immediate. (Perhaps 30% of people tested currently don't come back.)

However, the use of the rapid tests will be confined (at least initially) to specific health care settings. You're not going to see this on the shelf at Walgreens or in a vending machine in the bar restroom.