The original article can be found in: Antigua Observer By Alicia Simon
St. John’s Antigua- Medical Officer of Health, Dr Orrita Zachariah, said she is not quite ready to jump on the bandwagon with health professionals promoting over-the-counter HIV test for the nation.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” the Ministry of Health doctor declared in an interview with OBSERVER media.
“I look at the holistic, the social, the mental and physical well being of a patient. If that is what we are calling health, I can’t just say yes I agree to this over the counter testing because the implications are so great,” she said.
Recently, the nation’s current and former HIV/AIDS Clinical Care Coordinators, doctors Amina Fernandez and Sir Prince Ramsey, voiced their support of the test, currently available in pharmacies throughout the United States.
Dr Zachariah’s prime concern is the reaction persons might have if they test positive, but do not have the proper professional guidance on-hand to cope with an HIV positive diagnosis.
“The point is that element of counselling. I think it is very important still,” the doctor said.She queried, “Yes, maybe we can institute something in which the pharmacist may have to counsel the person, but how realistic would that be?”
Drs Fernandez and Ramsey agreed the introduction of the OTC HIV test would encourage persons who would otherwise not get tested—for fear of stigma—to learn their status from the comfort of their homes.
Although Dr Zachariah acknowledged stigma does exist, making some portions of the population reluctant to avail themselves for testing, she is not convinced the OTC test is the answer.
“I understand that there is a challenge regarding getting persons tested, but then you have a challenge as well, with a little knowledge being a dangerous thing,” she warned.
Dr Zachariah explained, “Meaning, you get a (positive) diagnosis, no matter how many times you would have seen all the educational paraphernalia on HIV/ AIDS, once you see that positive you forget about all of that.”
The OraQuick test detects the presence of HIV in saliva collected using a mouth swab. The test is designed to return a result within 20 to 40 minutes.
A clinical trial showed that the home test correctly detected HIV in those carrying the virus 92 per cent of the time . It was 99 per cent in ruling out HIV in persons not carrying the virus.
