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Home HIV test approved but isn't perfect

July 6th, 2012

The U.S Food and Drug Administration approved a home HIV test earlier this week. Dr. Philip Chan, assistant professor of medicine, praised the decision but cautions people that the test isn't perfect.

We are pleased the FDA has approved the over-the-counter OraSure HIV test. This test will offer the option for people to confidentially pursue HIV testing in their own home. This is similar to the standard rapid antibody test that many of us use here in the medical field. We do caution people that the test can occasionally be wrong. This may happen when someone first becomes infected with HIV and is in the 'acute phase'. Alternatively, the test may be positive in some people who do not have HIV. In the event of a positive test, people should immediately contact a local HIV provider for confirmatory testing. In Rhode Island, people may call The Miriam Hospital Immunology Center at (401) 793-2928.

Provided by Brown University

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