Singapore News // Friday, December 2, 2005 Print Article Email To Friend(s) Feedback Text Larger Text Smaller One Column Three Columns
Quick kit to test HIV
It will reveal the result in 20 minutes
Tan Hui Leng
[email protected]
From early next year, Singaporeans will have access to a rapid test kit for HIV that only requires a saliva swab from users.
.
Unlike existing test kits that require users to send blood samples to laboratories for testing — with a wait of up to three days for the results — the new test, which can be taken at any clinic, will take less than 20 minutes.
.
The new kits will be brought in by Rockeby Biomed Corporation. Its managing director Dr Tan Sze Wee said the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved test kit could be a "decisive turning point" in the battle to control Aids.
.
"Most of the tests done for HIV in Singapore are laboratory tests. This test does away with the need for needles and it's very fast," he said.
.
The new test kit costs $38 compared to the lab tests, which are priced between $15 to $20.
.
All the user has to do is to swab the back of the upper and lower gums with a special stick, provided in the kit, and dip it into a solution vial. The results will be indicated in a small display window on the stick.
.
As the American-made product — called the OraQuick Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test-kit — has a slim chance of inaccuracy of under 1 per cent, users will also need further lab tests to confirm if they are HIV positive.
.
The launch in Singapore yesterday was the first after the product's launch in the United States.
.
However, before the kit makes its way to the clinics, new legislation must first be passed here.
.
"A doctor currently cannot perform any HIV test in the clinic himself, so that (law) will be changed," said Dr Tan, who hopes to market the product in the region and China over the next 12 months.
.
The Ministry of Health will be pilot-testing the kit in non-clinical settings such as nightclubs, spas and saunas.
.
However, it will not be available off the shelves, said Dr Tan.
.
This is because proper counselling for the patient is required. The US FDA has also not approved the kit for over-the-counter sales for the same reason, he added.
It will reveal the result in 20 minutes
Tan Hui Leng
[email protected]
From early next year, Singaporeans will have access to a rapid test kit for HIV that only requires a saliva swab from users.
.
Unlike existing test kits that require users to send blood samples to laboratories for testing — with a wait of up to three days for the results — the new test, which can be taken at any clinic, will take less than 20 minutes.
.
The new kits will be brought in by Rockeby Biomed Corporation. Its managing director Dr Tan Sze Wee said the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved test kit could be a "decisive turning point" in the battle to control Aids.
.
"Most of the tests done for HIV in Singapore are laboratory tests. This test does away with the need for needles and it's very fast," he said.
.
The new test kit costs $38 compared to the lab tests, which are priced between $15 to $20.
.
All the user has to do is to swab the back of the upper and lower gums with a special stick, provided in the kit, and dip it into a solution vial. The results will be indicated in a small display window on the stick.
.
As the American-made product — called the OraQuick Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test-kit — has a slim chance of inaccuracy of under 1 per cent, users will also need further lab tests to confirm if they are HIV positive.
.
The launch in Singapore yesterday was the first after the product's launch in the United States.
.
However, before the kit makes its way to the clinics, new legislation must first be passed here.
.
"A doctor currently cannot perform any HIV test in the clinic himself, so that (law) will be changed," said Dr Tan, who hopes to market the product in the region and China over the next 12 months.
.
The Ministry of Health will be pilot-testing the kit in non-clinical settings such as nightclubs, spas and saunas.
.
However, it will not be available off the shelves, said Dr Tan.
.
This is because proper counselling for the patient is required. The US FDA has also not approved the kit for over-the-counter sales for the same reason, he added.
It will reveal the result in 20 minutes
Tan Hui Leng
[email protected]
From early next year, Singaporeans will have access to a rapid test kit for HIV that only requires a saliva swab from users.
.
Unlike existing test kits that require users to send blood samples to laboratories for testing — with a wait of up to three days for the results — the new test, which can be taken at any clinic, will take less than 20 minutes.
.
The new kits will be brought in by Rockeby Biomed Corporation. Its managing director Dr Tan Sze Wee said the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved test kit could be a "decisive turning point" in the battle to control Aids.
.
"Most of the tests done for HIV in Singapore are laboratory tests. This test does away with the need for needles and it's very fast," he said.
.
The new test kit costs $38 compared to the lab tests, which are priced between $15 to $20.
.
All the user has to do is to swab the back of the upper and lower gums with a special stick, provided in the kit, and dip it into a solution vial. The results will be indicated in a small display window on the stick.
.
As the American-made product — called the OraQuick Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test-kit — has a slim chance of inaccuracy of under 1 per cent, users will also need further lab tests to confirm if they are HIV positive.
.
The launch in Singapore yesterday was the first after the product's launch in the United States.
.
However, before the kit makes its way to the clinics, new legislation must first be passed here.
.
"A doctor currently cannot perform any HIV test in the clinic himself, so that (law) will be changed," said Dr Tan, who hopes to market the product in the region and China over the next 12 months.
.
The Ministry of Health will be pilot-testing the kit in non-clinical settings such as nightclubs, spas and saunas.
.
However, it will not be available off the shelves, said Dr Tan.
.
This is because proper counselling for the patient is required. The US FDA has also not approved the kit for over-the-counter sales for the same reason, he added.
It will reveal the result in 20 minutes
Tan Hui Leng
[email protected]
From early next year, Singaporeans will have access to a rapid test kit for HIV that only requires a saliva swab from users.
.
Unlike existing test kits that require users to send blood samples to laboratories for testing — with a wait of up to three days for the results — the new test, which can be taken at any clinic, will take less than 20 minutes.
.
The new kits will be brought in by Rockeby Biomed Corporation. Its managing director Dr Tan Sze Wee said the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved test kit could be a "decisive turning point" in the battle to control Aids.
.
"Most of the tests done for HIV in Singapore are laboratory tests. This test does away with the need for needles and it's very fast," he said.
.
The new test kit costs $38 compared to the lab tests, which are priced between $15 to $20.
.
All the user has to do is to swab the back of the upper and lower gums with a special stick, provided in the kit, and dip it into a solution vial. The results will be indicated in a small display window on the stick.
.
As the American-made product — called the OraQuick Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test-kit — has a slim chance of inaccuracy of under 1 per cent, users will also need further lab tests to confirm if they are HIV positive.
.
The launch in Singapore yesterday was the first after the product's launch in the United States.
Qutoe from Today 2 Dec
However, before the kit makes its way to the clinics, new legislation must first be passed here.
.
"A doctor currently cannot perform any HIV test in the clinic himself, so that (law) will be changed," said Dr Tan, who hopes to market the product in the region and China over the next 12 months.
.
The Ministry of Health will be pilot-testing the kit in non-clinical settings such as nightclubs, spas and saunas.
.
However, it will not be available off the shelves, said Dr Tan.
.
This is because proper counselling for the patient is required. The US FDA has also not approved the kit for over-the-counter sales for the same reason, he added.