13 July 2016
Forewarned is Forearmed
HIV test can be fast, safe and painless
Text: Vsevolod Eremin
According to recent data, over 1,000,000 cases of HIV
infection have been registered in Russia. Approximately the same number of
people conceal the disease or do not realize they are infected. And this number
is growing at an alarming rate, and the epidemy has long ago moved beyond the
circle of people who are considered to be vulnerable to infection.
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In Russia, saliva rapid tests have been applied for about
6 years.
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— This is a stigma, a stereotype that HIV is a disease of
drug addicts, prostitutes and lowlife, – said the Head of the regional public
organization “Novy vek” Albert Zaripov. – The epidemy has penetrated general
population. And people are in the risk zone, regardless of gender, age or
social status.
The proportion of new cases of infection in the 30–40 age
group increased significantly (from 9.9% in 2000 to 47.7% in 2015). That is,
not teenagers but adults, fulfilled persons, are in the risk zone. The virus is
found in the elderly people, in children. No one is immune to HIV.
The personal health culture in our country is unfortunately
not at the highest level. “It's not about me. It can’t happen with me, only
with others”, – thinks the bulk of the population. The Russians, for the most
part, are not in a hurry to undergo the tests, to check the body for the
presence of antibodies. And such irresponsibility is extremely incautious.
After all, if the virus is detected at an early stage, the own life can be
significantly prolonged and improved. Fortunately, antiretroviral therapy has
reached such a level that the abbreviation “HIV” has ceased
to be the sentence, it is possible to do sports with this
disease, to travel, to bear children, to live happily for many years. The most
important thing is to make a diagnosis and start treatment in time.
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this is the accuracy of the test OraQuick. Test result is
available in 20 minutes
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Many people are stopped by the fact that delivery of medical
tests is associated with span time, which is important, given the current
realities of frantic pace of life. We need to get up earlier, to go to a
specialized institution and submit to a blood test strictly in fasting state.
Since recently, it is not necessary. In the mid-2000s, the US company OraSure
developed a rapid test OraQuick capable to detect the presence of antibodies of
HIV-1 and HIV-2 in a few minutes and without blood sampling. The system is a
plastic housing with an absorbing plate and a vial with the reagent. Use of the
test procedure is painless and simple to the maximum. It is necessary to pass
the plate on the outside of the upper and lower gums (microbiologists have
found that antibodies, if present in the body, can be detected there in
particular), to place the tester with the sample in a container with the
developing solution. After 15–20 minutes, the strips will appear on the screen:
one – the result is negative, the virus is not found, two – the result is
positive, the probability of infection is high. The accuracy of the device is
98%, which was confirmed by Rospotrebnadzor. In addition, the tester responds
only to HIV; the influenza virus or other inflammatory processes in the patient
do not affect the operation of the device. The antigen detects only necessary
information. The only condition is the natural flora of the testee’s mouth
cavity. 10 minutes before the use of OraQuick one should not intake food,
liquid, chewing gum, smoke, so that the material (near-gingival fluid) should
be free of foreign impurities. Also, this tester has a distinct advantage – it
is non-invasive, thus completely eliminating the risk of infection.
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The need to undergo a blood test impedes many of those
who would like to know their HIV status.
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In America, the OraQuick is widespread. It is used for
self-diagnostics domiciliary, pharmacists in local drugstores use OraQuick to
run tests for the presence of HIV to anybody who wants to. In Russia, this test
system has been used since 2010 mainly in AIDS centers and dental departments.
“We use OraQuick in our clinics actively, – says Yevgeny Shapovalov, a
specialist of Unident Implantology department. – We recommend our clients
taking the test before surgical intervention, works in the field of
implantology. The diagnostics is carried out by trained personnel. In case of
HIV-positive signal, the patient is sent to a specialized center for diagnosis
specification and treatment if necessary. I’d like to note that the cost of the
procedure is relatively low (1,000 rubles on average), and gives enormous
benefits.”
Despite the depressing statistics, experts assure that in
the minds of Russians changes regarding the problems of HIV and AIDS occur
gradually. “Our organization has regularly held free express-tests for several
years using OraQuick in the streets of Kazan, – continues Albert Zaripov. – And
if 3–4 years ago, people were reluctant to the analysis by stating that they
have nothing to do with it, in recent years the citizens have become much more
willing to be tested.” Timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease are
actively popularized by the domestic entertainment stars, including Vera
Brezhneva, Basta, Stas Kostyushkin. Long ago the world came to a conclusion
that there is no need to be afraid and ashamed of HIV, the virus must be
fought. It's time for us to understand that regular (at least once a year)
testing for the presence of antibodies, including, by means of non-invasive
tests, should become a habit like teeth cleaning. It can save life and minimize
the risk to others.
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