How Reliable Are Home HIV Tests?

• Position: Home testing kits - Brief Article

HIV tests that can be taken at home are good options for individuals who want to know whether they have been infected with the AIDS virus, but shy away from clinics and doctors' offices, indicates Andy Luber, a pharmacist and infectious disease expert at the University of California, San Francisco. It is essential for persons who test HIV-positive using home testing to make sure they get the medical help and moral support they will need afterward, he stresses. "Knowing that there are going to be resources and medical advice available to you is probably more important than whether you take the test at home or at a clinic. If you tested positive, you would want someone to talk to."

Home HIV tests, available in pharmacies for about $50, are good options for individuals in a range of situations--especially low-risk individuals who simply want peace of mind, Luber says. He recommends products approved by the Food and Drug Administration, which provide easy access to initial telephone counseling and medical referrals for users...