L.A. Mayor to
Take HIV Test

To launch a city-wide HIV/AIDS initiative in conjunction with World AIDS Day, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will take an OraQuick Advance rapid HIV test on Friday to encourage residents to learn their own HIV status.

The test is the only FDA-approved point-of-care test able to detect antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 in 20 minutes, according to a press release. It uses saliva and blood samples to analyze for the virus.

More than 21,000 people in Los Angeles are living with HIV/AIDS, which accounts for 6% of cases in the United States as well as 35% of all cases in California. (The Advocate)