Since November 2002, the Food and Drug
Administration has approved 4 rapid HIV
tests. These tests offer many advantages
over conventional HIV blood tests. Sample
collection is easier (for example, from a
finger prick or oral fluid), and they are
easy to use outside of traditional
laboratories so they are suitable for
doctors’ offices and community and outreach
settings. Perhaps the biggest benefit of
rapid tests is their ability to give results
in 30 minutes or less. because test results
are available quickly, rapid HIV tests
dramatically increase the number of people
who get tested and find out their results
that day. This represents a significant
public health achievement because those who
know they are infected with HIV can get
treatment. Evidence also shows that persons
who know they are infected adopt changes
that dramatically reduce their risk of
transmitting the virus to others.
Rapid HIV tests also help further reduce
the number of infected infants born to
HIV-infected mothers. HIV transmission from
mother to infant can be decreased by almost
half if antiretroviral treatment is started
during labor.
CDC is involved in many areas of rapid
HIV testing, such as the following:
- Evaluating the accuracy of rapid tests
- Providing training on rapid tests
- Publishing information in the
scientific literature
- Maintaining an updated Web site
- Helping other federal agencies
introduce rapid HIV testing into their
projects
- Funding demonstration projects
In 2003, CDC funded 21 health departments
and CBOs for 2-year demonstration projects
for rapid HIV tests. These awards are used
for incorporating rapid testing into routine
medical care, partner counseling and
referral services, short-stay correctional
facilities, nonclinical settings, and social
networks. These projects have shown that
rapid tests are an important part of HIV
prevention efforts.
Visit the
rapid testing section of this Web site
for more information.
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Vaccine Research
The intervention most anticipated by
everyone working to stop the HIV/AIDS
epidemic is a vaccine to prevent infection.
CDC is no stranger to vaccine development
(considering its experience with other
vaccines such as measles, hepatitis b,
polio, and smallpox), but developing an HIV
vaccine presents unique challenges. For
example, it is critical that no one (whether
involved in the studies or not) abandon
safer sexual and drug-related behaviors
proven to prevent HIV infection. Overall,
vaccine development must not endanger
progress already made in HIV prevention.
Until a vaccine is available, and even
afterwards, we must continue to reinforce
the already proven methods of HIV
prevention.
CDC’s HIV vaccine research focuses on
conducting and evaluating HIV vaccine trials
in the United States and elsewhere. CDC
played an important role in the world’s
first 2 efficacy trials of HIV vaccine
candidates. Although the results indicated
that the vaccines were not effective in
reducing the risk for HIV infection, the
trials provided critical information that
will guide future research on HIV vaccines.
Through an agreement with the National
Institutes of Health and through membership
in the Partnership for AIDS Vaccine
Evaluation, CDC is currently contributing to
the US government’s effort to develop a safe
and effective HIV vaccine.
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Biomedical Research
Microbicides
CDC is actively
involved in research to identify and test
potential HIV microbicides. Microbicides are
gels, creams, or suppositories that can kill
or neutralize viruses and bacteria. When
applied in the vagina before sexual
intercourse, they can protect against some
sexually transmitted diseases. A safe,
effective, and affordable microbicide
against HIV could help to prevent many new
infections.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
Circumcision
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