There was another thread on complete STD testing recently. I wanted to start this thread on the latest news in HIV testing here in San Diego.
There is a new HIV test called the OraQuick Rapid test. It was recently FDA approved, and is being administered free of charge by the city of San Diego.
They simply prick your fingertip, and results are available in 20 minutes.
Public Health Services 3028 Fifth Ave. 619-296-2120
Note: Take 6th Ave alongside balboa park down to Quince. Go right on Quince. Right on 5th. Immediately get to left side of road. Its a little tiny building with two parking meters in front. Right after the turn onto 5th.
There are many important benefits of this test. It is actually considered *more* sensitive than the typical blood drawn antibody test you would get from Planned Parenthood or other walk in testing centers. It can detect both IgG and IgM. It is also a third generation Elisa antibody test, which means it can detect HIV antibodies as soon as 6 weeks. You also don't have to wait that completely absurd 1 to 2 weeks for results.
The CDC is still stating a 3 month window period established by the first generation tests, but clinical trials have proven over and over again that the OraQuick shows 97% sensitivity by 36 days after exposure.
Why is this relevant? It means that if you test negative, there is a 97% chance you did not acquire the virus as recent as 6 weeks ago. This is a huge step forward from the 3 and formerly 6 month window period required.
This is also relevant because you can get your partner tested and know that she was clean as of only about a month and a half prior. That's comforting news.
Being free and being 20 minute results is a huge deal and I hope you guys will take advantage of it. I've already been there and have sent several others as well.
Its Legitimate. If you need better directions just private message me.
Just go down 6th, right on Quince, and right on 5th. Immediately get in left lane and pull up to the two or three meters. They're right in front of the office.
When you walk in just say you'd like the Rapid Test, and they give you a number to hold on to.
Someone comes out within 5 to 15 mins, calls your number, they take you back to do the test. They give you a quick education on HIV and they will tell you the test is only accurate as of 3 months prior. Just ignore them because they have to say this by law. The OraQuick test is accurate as of 6 weeks. Only about 3% take 3 months to show positive. To be sure, you should retest at 3 months, but you can be relatively secure if a full 6 weeks has passed.
She pricks your finger, rubs a little plastic stick on it, and you're done. 20 mins later they give you a certification that you're clean and you're on your way.
It's almost always empty in there, so its not embarrasing and the wait is not too long.
To verify it all, just call the # on my original post and they'll confirm.
Nobody wants to wait 1-2 weeks for results via that horrible planned parenthood place.
Given all the things PP has done for people over the years, in spite of any wait or difficulties, it would take a lot for me to EVER call them horrible. I thank the universe they have been there all these years.
I've had nothing but bad experiences with Planned Parenthood. At this point in the game they are just stretched way too thin to provide good service anymore. At least at the El Cajon office. Not only do they not answer their phone all day even though it rings right next to their hands, but the attitude you get from the people who work there stinks, and the turnaround time for testing is triple and quadruple what it should be for 2004. Even when the test is ready, you'll be lucky to get through on the phone to find out about it, and even then, they make you schedule an appointment which you end up waiting another few days just to get in and see.
They provided a service that was valuable when testing wasn't readily available to people but they're still following the same timelines of nearly 10 years ago when this all started. Things have changed, and progressed since back then, and they really haven't.
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