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Sexual Health News - Sexual Health and Behavior

Half-hour HIV test given clearance for use in Australia

By Lisa Oldson, MD Dec. 17, 2012
HIV testing and other forms of screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are some of the only ways for individuals to know whether they're a carrier for a specific ailment, but in the past, these procedures weren't exactly quick and easy. Fortunately, a new HIV test developed in Australia can reveal a person's status in as little as a half hour and could completely revolutionize how medical health professionals treat the virus. With such a quick turnaround after the test, doctors can begin a treatment plan far sooner than they previously could and reduce the risk that the virus may spread further, reported the International Business Times. 

"This is a circuit breaker for us - we've been pushing for rapid testing to be approved for years, and this is really the start of something new in HIV diagnosis," Rob Lake, executive director of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organizations (AFAO), told the news source. "It is very important for people to know their HIV status because we [doctors] also reduce the risk of transmission."

In the past, an HIV test required an individual to make a trip to the doctor's office, wait several days for the results and then be forced to make another appointment to develop a treatment plan. According to News Limited, the new test will be able to give a patient the results within 30 minutes using just a pin prick. Additionally, the test has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) with strict guidelines that the test should only be administered in a doctor's office or sexual health center that can combine the screening with medical assistance and counseling.

The new test could revolutionize the way that medical professionals treat HIV and prove to be one of the biggest breakthroughs in the treatment of the virus within recent decades.
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