What seemed like a new weapon for the early detection of HIV infection has generated much controversy. Not only do they see it as a quick and effective tool, but it has also triggered a lot of criticism.
It is undeniable that the test is faster than the conventional analytical that was done to detect HIV. The results are ready in just 20 minutes. In addition, it is a very non-invasive method; there is no need to draw blood, but a swab is used to rub the gums, and that sample is enough to make the diagnosis.
It is sold in many pharmacies in our country and it also exists in some health centers. The attractiveness of this test is that it can be done at home , and that eliminates one of the main disadvantages of the conventional test: many people do not perform the test because they feel that when they go to a center to take the test they are being judged , carrying the stigma of AIDS that remains very present in society. It is not enough to say "it's another infection". Therefore, having a test that one can perform at home, there is no fear of criticism or uncomfortable glances , or the feeling of being unveiling our private life. It's just as simple as a pregnancy test.
This last statement has raised blisters. Some say that pregnancy should not be compared with HIV infection. Pregnancy is not a disease. But in both cases, early diagnosis can be the difference between a healthy pregnancy with all the controls done regularly (or a follow-up and early treatment of HIV) or a "surprise" pregnancy, with possible risks for the fetus and the mother for not perform the usual tests (or uncontrolled progression of the disease by HIV).
In addition, no medical staff is needed to perform the test, which lowers costs. Nor do we need a laboratory or cutting-edge technology; It would be an ideal test for those countries that do not have the resources to maintain such facilities. It generalizes the detection of the infection: it is useful to know quickly if a population of which we do not have data or a population of risk are infected or not.
Unfortunately, this test is not a panacea . Many point out that the test eliminates a fundamental point of HIV detection: counseling by health personnel . When performing the test at home, you know if you are infected or not, but many do not know very well what to do next. Whether you are infected or not, the fact of conducting the test indicates that you have doubts about it, and perhaps a doctor can guide us to preventive measures that we did not know or to a specialized unit that can prescribe the appropriate treatment as quickly as possible. A doctor can answer all the doubts that arise when knowing the infection. And you can also raise others that may be directing the treatment. These health tips are almost as important as the performance of the test .
Numerous potential patients are going to be "diagnosed" in their own homes. When the conventional test is performed in a hospital or health center, there is a consensual protocol on what to do with a positive result. They include the additional tests that must be performed, to the treatments that must be prescribed for each individual case. From the point of view of monitoring the health of the general population, these "home" diagnoses will disappear from the statistics and we will not know for sure what decision the patient has made. Will you go to the doctor? Will you decide to hide it from your family? Will it take any action to avoid possible infections? The possibilities are endless; Every person is a world. And this does not end there: there is fear that this test will be used to control certain sectors of the population. It has been suggested that this test could be used by procurers and managers of brothels to control even more the prostitutes and thus ask for more money for those who have a negative test.
The company that has patented the product in the United States (USA), Orasure, sells the "Oraquick" test on the Internet at the price of $ 39.99, with US distribution only. In Spain, in some centers the realization is free, while in others it is sold at € 5 (in pharmacies in Valladolid), and in private centers it costs up to € 50, including medical advice.
Only a few months have passed since this test has taken to the streets; It is still too early to know if it really represents a real change in the detection of HIV. The real problem in Spain is that most new cases detected have been diagnosed in fairly advanced stages, which reduces life expectancy and treatment is not as effective in limiting the progression of the disease. Perhaps the new test makes the diagnosis more accessible and the fear of "knowing" disappears, allowing an early diagnosis.