Honey, what does it mean when it turns blue?Follow

The possible availability of the test, which relies on a swab on the inside of the mouth, has raised concerns about the potential psychological impact on people who learn they have the virus with no doctors or counselors present.

The test, called OraQuick Advance, is made by OraSure Technologies Inc. of Bethlehem, Pa. It is already widely available in health clinics and doctor's offices, and the FDA is considering permitting it to be sold over the counter.

A person takes the test by taking a mouth swab and then inserting the swab in a vial of fluid that comes with the test. Twenty minutes later, the device would indicate whether it detects the presence of HIV-1 or HIV-2 antibodies inside cells picked up by the swab.

The test will not detect the virus if the person only recently acquired HIV, the virus that causes
AIDS, because it takes several weeks for the antibodies to appear.

The company has not decided at what price it would sell the kits to consumers, company officials said. The company sells the kits for between $12 and $17 to clinics and doctors, he said.

The test is accurate more than 99 percent of the time, the company says. Still, a positive result from the test should be confirmed through an additional test by doctors or public health officials.

I'd take them to school, have people take the tests, and tell them that they will be ready in about a day. Take them home, add blue food coloring and there you go! April Fools day, pre-packaged.

So, if they approve this, how many of you will be adding this baby to your shopping lists?

Admittedly, I will.

terminal mahogany?

I get tested about once every couple of years when in a relationship, and then about three months after the end of one. I hate needles and giving blood, but I'd rather endure the test and know my status.


Same as the test in the doctor's office, then.
It seems like you would want a doctor to tell you if you were positive. I would certainly want one present.

Is that what you go to your doctor for?
Putting myself in that scenario, I imagine that if I just found out I was HIV-positive I would have many questions about my prognosis, medications, and treatments, and I'd rather ask a doctor than read the back of the package.

you can be in the army with HIV, you just can't deploy...and they say that it remains completely private if you do have it, even from your commander. I want to know how you explain to your chain of command that you are non-deployable? Anyway...)

I'm in the Army and my buddy here has it. He got it while in Korea. He covered it up by saying he had stomach cancer. He had to fly to Fort Gordon, GA for all these tests each month. We all believed him and not even the commander knew. Then, a medic arrived in our unit. She had been stationed in Korea with my buddy. She walked up and sed out loud, "aren't you the guy who has aids?" Jig was up, we all found out and he went to Fort Leavenworth to prison for four years. That's cuz he never told his three girlfriends at the time that he was infected. They didn't charge him, but the Army did.