2004-4-11
This is Robert Cohen with the VOA Special English Development
Report.
The United States Food and Drug
Administration has approved a new test for H.I.V., the virus that
causes AIDS. Experts say it is low in cost, easy to use and provides
fast results. The method tests liquid saliva from a person's mouth,
instead of his or her blood. Results are ready within twenty
minutes, and are ninety-nine percent correct.
OraSure Technologies in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania developed the
test. It is called OraQuick Rapid H.I.V. Antibody Test. The test is
based on technology created earlier by the company that tests a
single drop of blood. OraSure President Michael Gausling says the
saliva test can be used anywhere, anytime and by anyone.
He adds that there is no risk of spreading H.I.V. with the test.
In the past, some health workers have accidentally become infected
when testing people's blood for the virus.
Public health officials believe the OraQuick test will help fight
AIDS in two ways. First, it could result in more people getting
tested. The process is simple. A piece of cotton is moved across the
gums inside a person's mouth. It is then put into a liquid in the
testing device. Two colored lines appear on the device if antibodies
to the virus are present.
The test also will permit people to get their results quickly. In
many developing countries, blood test results can take up to two
weeks. Because of this, people often do not return to find out if
they are infected. The new test will let a person know within twenty
minutes if he or she is infected. An infected person could receive
immediate information about treatment and how to stop the disease
from spreading.
World health officials estimate that as many as ninety-five
percent of people with H.I.V. in developing countries do not know
they are infected. Mister Gausling hopes the OraQuick test will
change this. He says that humanitarian aid workers and people with
limited health care experience will now be able to quickly identify
and help patients with the disease.
OraSure officials estimate the OraQuick test will cost between
eight and twenty dollars in the United States. However, they believe
the product will cost much less in other countries. American
officials say the new H.I.V. test will be especially important for
use in Africa, which is the worst affected part of the world.This
VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill Moss.
This is Robert Cohen.