A medical worker from the Muong Lat District Medical Station takes a blood sample for HIV testing at Tam Trung commune in the central province of Thanh Hoa (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – Much like home testing
kits, the oral will be launched in Vietnam for the first
time, said an official of the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) Vietnam Administration
for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC).
According to Vo Hai Son, head of the HIV/AIDS
Surveillance, Monitoring, Evaluation and Testing Division under VAAC, the MoH
is conducting 80,000 through saliva in Hanoi and HCM City. The test
will also be launched in Thai Nguyen province, Can Tho city and Ba Ria-Vung Tau
province in the coming time.
The oral HIV self-test showed 99 percent
accuracy in detecting HIV antibodies in high-risk populations, Son said.
High-risk groups include people who inject
drugs, homosexual men, and people who engage in unprotected sex.
A US-based HIV testing manufacturer has agreed
to sell the kits to Vietnam for around 2 USD per unit, whereas most kits online
go for up to 20 USD per unit, he said.
People at high risk of HIV infection can buy
this product and test themselves at home, getting results in as little as 15
minutes.
Much like home pregnancy tests, the oral HIV
self-test can only serve as a preliminary method of diagnosis. People who get
positive results after quick testing should go to medical facilities to seek
the most accurate results, Son said.
“Early HIV detection plays an important role in
preventing and treating the disease, especially for pregnant women. Early
detection of HIV will help the process of treatment and prevention of
infections in children,” said Son.
At the press conference late last week, VAAC
warned about increasing HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM).
A recent survey conducted in Hanoi showed that
the HIV infection rate in MSM accounted for 12 percent of the overall number,
Son said.
The risk of HIV infection could increase as HIV
prevalence among MSM is high, he added.
According to statistics from VAAC, about 200
HIV-infected children are born each year.
“Previously, 500-600 babies were infected with
HIV every year from their mothers. It is hoped that this number will drop to 60
babies or less in the future if there are early preventive measures,” said Hoang
Dinh Canh, deputy head of VAAC.-VNS/VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
