Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1986. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Associated Press - October 29, 1986
The practice was begun about six months months ago, the publisher, Victor H. Hanson II, told National Public Radio.
"We don't want knowingly to get involved with somebody who has a debilitating illness that would be very costly to us," Mr. Hanson said.
A disease such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome, which cripples the body's immune system, can be extremely expensive for an employer and increase insurance costs for the whole company, he said.
While the test for AIDS antibodies is a condition of employment for new employees, the newspaper is not requiring such tests for those hired before the policy was put into effect.
Test Reveals Antibodies
The blood test reveals the presence of antibodies to the virus that causes AIDS, indicating whether a person has been exposed to the virus. It does not indicate whether the virus itself is present or whether the person will develop the fatal ailment, and health officials say the test can produce results that are incorrect.
A state health officer, Earl Fox, said today that his department is not aware of any other employer outside the military that gives the AIDS test. He also said the State Committee on Public Health recently decided not to recommend mandatory testing for AIDS.
"I'm not saying The Birmingham News shouldn't do it," Mr. Fox said. But he said the committee, which sets public health policy guidelines in Alabama, does not recommend mandatory testing because of possible questions about civil rights and job discrimination.
He said the committee does recommend voluntary, anonymous testing by members of groups at high risk for AIDS, such as homosexual men and intravenous drug users.
The National Public Radio report quoted Mr. Hanson as acknowledgiing that the test results can be faulty but as saying that no applicants who test positive will be hired by The News.
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