AEGiS-UPI: L.A. center drops rapid oral HIV test

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

L.A. center drops rapid oral HIV test

United Press International - December 16, 2005

LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- The rapid oral HIV test will no longer be used by the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center because it says the test produces too many false positives.

The Los Angeles center found 13 people in November had tested positive for HIV from the oral swab test, but further tests showed they were not infected, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

Center officials said they would use another technique, which requires a small blood sample that can still be performed in 20 minutes.

One of our biggest concerns is the public is going to lose confidence in HIV testing. We can't afford for that to happen," said Jim Key, a spokesman for the center. "We're trying to make the public aware that there are very reliable tests to know their HIV status."

However, Dr. Peter Kerndt, director of Los Angeles County's sexually transmitted disease program, had questioned the center's results and said the county has not detected abnormally high rates of inaccurate test results.
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