Three reason you won't see an OTC rapid test approved by the FDA in the near future.
The first involves counseling. Everyone agrees that a positive result needs immediate counseling. Not only as to the individual's mental state, but also as to community resources, medical follow-up and alternatives, safer sex, notifying partners, etc.
The second is that the oraquick requires special equipment to "develope" the test results. It's not as simple as placing a spot of blood on a peice of paper and waiting 20 minutes (like pissing on a stick for pregnancy) . The paper must be "developed", just like you have to develope an x-ray after it is taken. Do it wrong and you have an inaccurate result. I'm sure it will continue to evolve and improve, but you still have the counseling issue.
Finally, what most of you (and the public) don't know is that Bushy boi has passed rules to soon (like October) make it impossible to get an anonymous HIV test. He didn't out law such testing, but will stop giving money to state health services that offer anonymous tests. No state can afford to lose federal funds, so they will stop giving anonymous tests through state funded sites. dubya's stated reason is that anonymous testing makes it impossible to get a handle on HIV. In actuality, this misguided step will just prevent people from getting tested and knowing their status. Look for a big increase of HIV infections.
|