CDC: OraQuick test produces fewer false-positive results

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test, which can produce results in about 20 minutes, generates substantially fewer false-positive readings than traditional HIV antibody tests in laboratory settings. The effectiveness of the test has lead the CDC to recommend rapid HIV testing for several at-risk groups. For instance, testing pregnant women in labor whose HIV status is undetermined may reduce the number of mother-to-child HIV transmissions. CDC officials also recommend that the test be used in street outreach programs that target such at-risk populations as gay and bisexual men, intravenous-drug users, and sex workers. The test is now available at more than 180,000 U.S. sites, including medical offices, clinics, outreach programs, and community organizations. The availability of this rapid-results test helps address the problem of people who take HIV antibody tests but don't return to receive their results, company officials say. As many as one third of people taking standard HIV antibody tests don't return to receive their results.