Rapid Fingerstick Testing: A New Era in HIV Diagnostics

In November, 2002, the FDA announced approval of the OraQuickRapid HIV-1 Antibody Test, which can detect HIV antibodies in fingerstick whole-blood specimens in as few as 20 minutes. On January 31, 2003, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced greatly expanded access to this assay. To discuss the implications of OraQuick for HIV counseling and testing, prevention efforts, and access to care, ACC spoke with Dr. Bernard Branson (CDC), Dr. Carlos del Rio (Emory University), Ms. Susan Larrabee, (Brigham and Women's Hospital), and Dr. Paul E. Sax (Harvard University).

On November 7, 2002, the FDA announced approval of the OraQuick^® Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test, which can detect HIV antibodies in fingerstick whole-blood specimens in as few as 20 minutes. On January 31, 2003, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced greatly expanded access to this assay through a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waiver. To discuss the implications of OraQuick for HIV counseling and testing, prevention efforts, and access to care, ACC Executive Editor Matthew O'Rourke spoke with Dr. Bernard Branson, Chief of the Laboratory Determinants & Diagnostics Section of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention at the CDC; Dr. Carlos del Rio, Chief of Medicine at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and Associ…

Authors

Bernard M. Branson, MD, Carlos del Rio, MD, Susan Larrabee, MSW, LICSW

Paul E. Sax, MD

Rapid Fingerstick Testing: A New Era in HIV Diagnostics

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Authors