SAMHSA will spend $4 million on rapid HIV tests

The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on Friday announced it will spend $4 million to purchase OraQuick rapid HIV antibody tests for distribution to more than 22,000 substance abuse and prevention sites throughout the country. OraSure Technologies, the maker of the test kits, expects to begin shipping the kits during the fourth quarter of this year and will continue supplying them to SAMHSA throughout 2005. The tests can produce results in about 20 minutes and can be given on-site without the need for laboratory processing. "SAMHSA is taking a major step forward in the fight against HIV/AIDS by making available the OraQuick Rapid HIV Test where it is urgently needed, in the thousands of substance abuse treatment and prevention sites throughout the country," said Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.). "I'm very pleased this world-class business from Pennsylvania is uniquely suited to partner with the many government agencies to advance the fight against this pandemic both at home and abroad."