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On April 17, a pilot project began
that allows women ages 18-30 in four Bay Area counties to test themselves at
home for certain STDs free of charge. Through the website www.iknowsfbay.org,
women can order test kits for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. The
kits, delivered in plain white envelopes, contain a cotton swab, collection
container, and instructions on taking a sample.
A few days after sending the sample
to Johns Hopkins University (JHU) for analysis, the women will receive a text
or e-mail notice saying their results are available online. Those testing
positive will be able to get an online prescription for treatment, which they
can have filled at the pharmacy of their choice. They also may be advised to
seek additional testing for HIV or other STDs. The entire process should take
10-14 days.
Working with the research group RTI
International, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties
plan to sign up 400 women before stopping enrollment to analyze results. Each
county will evaluate the data, with health officials focusing on feasibility,
demand, and cost-effectiveness.
Similar efforts are underway in
Baltimore and Los Angeles. Ten percent of 400 test kits received in Baltimore
showed positive results for chlamydia, a JHU study found, and 95 percent of the
infected women sought treatment.
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!
