Starting in December the Chaoyang Chinese AIDS Intervention Working Group will promote the use of the fast HIV testing method of saliva test sticks within its jurisdiction, according to the Beijing's Chaoyang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This will be the first time that this method is used in Beijing.
HIV antibodies exist not only in blood but are also found in bodily fluids such as saliva, tears and urine. After the saliva indicator stick comes in contact with diluted saliva, in less than 20 minutes, it is possible to determine whether or not someone is infected with HIV by reading the results of the "safety lines": two red lines indicate positive, while one red line represents negative.
At present, blood tests are the primary testing method for HIV used in Beijing. However, blood tests not only have a longer waiting period for results, but also run the risk of cross infection. Furthermore, in regions with limited medical resources and remote areas, blood tests cannot be completed expediently. The fast testing method developed by the US which tests for HIV antibodies using exfoliated oral mucosal cells can remedy the inadequacies presented by blood tests. Moreover, the experiments conducted by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing Ditan Hospital and the Second Artillery Forces General Hospital of the Chinese PLA show that the test's accuracy rate reaches 99.9%.
By People's Daily Online
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