Rapid HIV Testing: Available Soon at Home

While Vermont CARES certainly lauds new tools for Vermonters to get tested for HIV, we also remain strong advocates for the counseling, conversation, and risk reduction that comes with getting an HIV test with a trained HIV testing counselor. 

You may have heard recently about OraSure’s rapid-result HIV test – called OraQuick – coming up for sale soon for home use.  This is, happily, the same test kit that we use in our offices and we find this technology effective, easy-to-use, and accurate. 

However, so much of what makes HIV testing valuable lies in the conversation you can have with your HIV counselor when you meet with one of our staff.  As a non-judgmental person who can listen to your potential HIV transmission risks, and answer whatever questions you might have, HIV counseling is one of the most effective means of actually stopping the spread of the virus.  Learn more about HIV testing with Vermont CARES, and see a map of our offices, here:  http://www.vtcares.org/prevention/testedhome.html 

So much of what we may hear out in the community – through online forums, or even from some trained medical professionals – may not really give you the information you need, nor the support or encouragement (just that little bit!) that you might need to actually make changes to keep yourself safer moving forward. 

More information, and source material, on this story here: http://www.oraquick.com/?gclid=CPbth4bXurECFQFx4AodvygAAQ

Medication May Protect HIV-Negative Individuals from Infection

Last week, the FDA approved a long-used HIV-fighting medication, Truvada, as a new HIV prevention tool.  This is a major shift toward the medicalization of HIV prevention, and it uncovers a big dilemma in stopping the spread of HIV. 

In the near future, certain people at high risk of HIV may be able to procure a prescription for this medication through their medical provider.  Taken daily, this HIV medication may reduce some individuals’ risk of HIV infection by as much as 90%.  This is a tremendous benefit to those at risk, but it is not without challenge.  A major obstacle for many is that, as with HIV treatment for those who are HIV-positive, this medication must be taken daily.  That may not be feasible for some.  Additionally, the medication is tremendously expensive, and we are unsure at this point which insurance companies may or may not be willing to pay for this preventive medication.  Lastly, the real benefit of this medication lies within the context of other HIV prevention methods, such as routine HIV testing and condom or other barrier use. 

That said, for those at risk of HIV infection who are appropriate candidates for the prescription, and who can get the medication paid for, this may be a life-saving HIV prevention tool.  As we learn more about this, and how it can be implemented in Vermont, we will post more information about it and keep you updated.  In the meantime, we recommend you speak with your medical provider if you have more specific questions about whether this is a good fit for you as CDC and other medical officials figure out how to launch this program. 

More information, and source material, on this story here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/07/17/156868446/deciding-on-truvada-who-should-take-new-hiv-prevention-pill

HIV Rates Lowered by Syringe Exchange

 Over the years, we have posted whatever data we could find about the effectiveness of Syringe Exchange Programs (SEP’s) in reducing HIV rates among people who might otherwise share needles.  Previous data has suggested that for every 30,000 syringes exchanged, 3 lives were saved by averting exposure to HIV.  SEP’s clearly have other health benefits too, since sharing or reusing syringes can be harmful to health for reasons other than the transmission of blood borne pathogens. 

This week at the International AIDS Conference, we saw evidence that these programs may do more than save a limited number of lives; they may all but eliminate HIV infections among people who use injection drugs!  New York City and Amsterdam are listed as cities which have seen dramatic decreases in new HIV infection rates for injection drug users because of robust SEP’s. 

Vermont CARES is proud to operate a busy and growing syringe exchange out of our St. Johnsbury office.  More information can be found here:  http://www.vtcares.org/stopspread/syringhow.html

More information, and source material, on this story here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/07/24/157283038/needle-exchanges-often-overlooked-in-aids-fight