AEGiS-Reuters: Repeat HIV tests reassure thousands of Britons

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Repeat HIV tests reassure thousands of Britons

Reuters NewMedia, Inc. 16 April 1996


LONDON) - Thousands of Britons who rushed to hospitals and AIDS clinics last week after doubts were raised about the reliability of HIV testing have now been reassured that they are safe, the government said on Monday.

Health minister John Bowis told parliament that out of 25,000 samples tested with a questionable kit, more than 90 percent had now been re-tested.

"All but three cases have been reconfirmed as negative. Those three are being further investigated," Bowis said.

Britain ordered re-tests for people whose samples were initially examined by a test manufactured by Chicago-based drug company Abbott Laboratories Inc.

Abbott stopped selling the test on March 25 after at least four tests showed negative readings for the antibodies in patients known to have the human immuno-defiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS.

About two million of the HIV tests had been sold worldwide since July 1995.
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