Everyone has HIV

Stammer · **Everyone has HIV -** 10-14-2005, 04:15 PM

or not.

[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1591724,00.html:6c94e]Guardian Article[/url:6c94e]

[quote:6c94e]Friday October 14, 2005
The Guardian

The first rapid home test kit for HIV has been approved in the US, after years of controversy and fears that people who find they are infected may kill themselves.

Approval of the test marks a shift in thinking about HIV/Aids. For nearly 20 years, experts and activists have agonised over tests that allow people to find out their HIV status in privacy but also isolation, without access to counselling.

HIV infection was seen as a death sentence in the 1980s, before medication with antiretroviral drugs took off. Home tests became illegal in the UK when the HIV Testing Kits and Services Regulations 1992 were passed. The law would have to be repealed for the tests to be imported here. The US passed similar legislation in 1988, but lifted the ban in 1995.

Article continues
The new kit is as simple as a pregnancy test, and the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has decided that its usefulness in alerting people quickly and privately to their HIV status, so that they can avoid infecting others, outweighs any harm. The rapid test, called OraQuick, analyses saliva and gives a result in 20 minutes. One blue line is good news, but two means the person has HIV, which leads to Aids.

The technology has been around for some time. Eighteen years ago a company applied to license a home test, but there was concern at the impact of the diagnosis, which then looked like a sentence to imminent death by Aids. At FDA hearings, activists handed around obituaries of a man who leapt off San Francisco's Golden Gate bridge when he received his diagnosis. For years, the activists said tests must be linked to counselling and support.

Today, HIV/Aids is managed so well in most cases that people live normal lives. But with the lowering of fear levels around Aids, people have become less cautious. Cases are rising by 40,000 a year in the US.

Campaigners have shifted their ground. Gregg Gonsalves of Gay Men's Health Crisis in New York, now believes the test is better than arriving in hospital with pneumonia or cryptococcal meningitis - infections typical of Aids. The home tests are also supported by the Terrence Higgins Trust in the UK.[/quote:6c94e]

Sergeant_Scrotum · 10-14-2005, 04:48 PM

So what if they kill themselves? Are we going to start making relationships illegal because im sure a lot more people die over them than from suicide from finding out they are HIV positive. I’m glad this is going to be out on the market, hopefully it was slow the spread of the disease. I hope im not coming acorss as an ass but I can't belive they held this back for so long because they were afraid how people would react.

dr nein · 10-14-2005, 05:01 PM

people will only kill themselves over having aids if they take an at home test. they can't just drive home from the doctor and put a bullet in their head after all.

Arkan · 10-14-2005, 05:39 PM

Again, this is why the bleeding heart librals should have their own planet.

Nyck · 10-14-2005, 05:43 PM

Magic Johnson has had aids for like 11 years and hes still fat. It cant be that bad.

[DAS REICH] Blitz · 10-14-2005, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arkan

Again, this is why the bleeding heart librals should have their own planet.

1080jibber · 10-14-2005, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyck

Magic Johnson has had aids for like 11 years and hes still fat. It cant be that bad.

I think he has HIV, I remember when they let him play the allstar game (i think it was just after he retired) and all i could think about was if he was going to spread that shit around to all the awsome players.

I use to be a huge basketball nut, now i look like i ate a basketball biggrin:

there are to many Pro's and Con's to this test coming out, im kind of back and forth on it.

elstatec · 10-15-2005, 11:12 AM

kind of on the subject, got told at work to be on the look out as in cinemas/theatres in the UK little needles of HIV infected blood or whatever have been put on seats, coke machines and what not with a little not next to them and quite a few people have got it because of it.

cant find a artcile for it so far but im sure there is one./

CoMaToSe · 10-15-2005, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elstatec

kind of on the subject, got told at work to be on the look out as in cinemas/theatres in the UK little needles of HIV infected blood or whatever have been put on seats, coke machines and what not with a little not next to them and quite a few people have got it because of it.

cant find a artcile for it so far but im sure there is one./

why the fuck would anybody do that?

1080jibber · 10-15-2005, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elstatec

kind of on the subject, got told at work to be on the look out as in cinemas/theatres in the UK little needles of HIV infected blood or whatever have been put on seats, coke machines and what not with a little not next to them and quite a few people have got it because of it.

cant find a artcile for it so far but im sure there is one./

its a urban legend, there was the one about the infected needle in a phone booth change slot and the one about a person handing out night club flyers and pricking people when they grab it

Miscguy · 10-15-2005, 01:03 PM

Who gives a shit if they kill themselves, they were just going to end up being a burden on everyone. Medication isnt free, and i know there not footing the bill out of there pocket. Fuck em, let em die especially the homos.

Sergeant_Scrotum · 10-15-2005, 01:59 PM

One of the things I remember most about my first aid training is that to get HIV you need to have sex with the person or physiclally have a substantial amount of their blood injected into you. Its not something you can catch from a mere pin prick with the persons blood on it.

Mr.Buttocks · 10-15-2005, 03:29 PM

http://www.aidshoax2005.com

Jin-Roh · 10-15-2005, 03:31 PM

Quarantine.

TGB! · 10-15-2005, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arkan

Again, this is why the bleeding heart librals should have their own planet.

Uhm - I dont think its just "liberals" who dont want people unable to cope with finding out they have AIDS/HIV to be told be a doctor, and have immediate counseling.

I dont think the test should be off store shelves, but this isnt like finding out your pregnant. You're finding out you more than likely are going to die - or your life as you know it is over.