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Home test kits for pregnancy, blood
glucose, and cholesterol are among the many available to consumers who want
more involvement in their own health care. According to Iain Buxton at the
University of Nevada School of Medicine, their convenience and accessibility
may help diagnose conditions earlier and lead to more effective treatment.
Home Access Health Corp.’s home HIV
test kit, the only such product approved by the Food and Drug Administration,
retails for about $60. According to company President Mary Vogt, the consumer
sends a finger-stick blood sample to the company's accredited lab via a prepaid
mailer. To obtain test results, the individual calls a toll-free number and
provides a code number.
Whether results are positive or
negative, consumers may receive them from and speak to trained counselors.
Individuals who have positive results receive more counseling and referrals,
and they are encouraged to follow-up with their health care provider.
Rick Reich, a communicable-disease
manager with the Southern Nevada Health District’s office of HIV/AIDS/STD, said
that while home HIV tests are “well-meaning,” local counselors can be more
helpful to newly diagnosed patients. He added that an HIV diagnosis often
causes people to shut down emotionally and avoid treatment.
Dr. David Park, chair of the primary
care department at Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine,
said anyone who receives a positive result on a home test should arrange to
discuss the results with a doctor. Moreover, the results of a home test, like
any test, can be falsely negative or positive. Park noted that accurate test
results hinge on the consumer following the instructions correctly.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
