Manufacturer of
rapid HIV test says it performs well

Officials with OraSure Technologies, speaking at an investors conference this week, say the company's OraQuick oral rapid HIV antibody test is performing well, despite reports from some agencies in New York and California that it produces a high number of false-positive results, The [Allentown, Pa.] Morning Call reports. CEO Douglas Michels says the test has a 99.8% accuracy rate in identifying testers who are HIV-negative, based on an analysis of more than 112,000 tests performed last year in eight states.

Michels says the reports of high numbers of false-positives have been limited to a few sites and notes that there may be a "site-specific factor" causing the false-positives. Studies are currently under way to determine the cause of the false-positive results.

Six testing centers in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco stopped using the oral rapid HIV test after reporting a high rate of false-positive results. City clinics in San Francisco say one quarter of positive test results turned out to be inaccurate; the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center reported 13 false-positive results in November alone. (Advocate.com)