Individuals Should Not Test Themselves for HIV Virus with Rapid Test, Experts Say
[Chinanews.com, 11 March 2003]
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/n/2003-03-11/26/281323.html

Experts at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention have announced that the rapid HIV test is not meant for self-diagnosis. They said both the testing and judging of results should be done only by trained medical staff.

The office’s “AIDS prevention and control center” laboratory director Jiang Yan said that in order to use the test, and to better serve the needs of the people being tested, the following explanation of the test has been prepared:

1. Like the common test for AIDS (ELISA), this test is suited to batch (mass production) sample testing, and staff doing the testing can test many samples simultaneously. Testing requires a special laboratory facilities and equipment. In recent years, domestic and foreign rapid tests have appeared one after another [in succession]. These methods have made testing more convenient and faster, which is a benefit. It is possible to test only one sample, and kits are made for single samples, which is suitable for consulations or for testing before medical operations, pre-natal testing and other emergency procedures.

2. Because the rapid AIDS test depends on certain conditions, like the temperature of the blood, the thickness of the blood sample and the blood serum separation, and other technical limitations of the test, it is suggested that the taking of blood and carrying out of the rapid test procedure only be done by qualified staff who have been through special training. It is not recommended for individual self-testing.

3. The results of the rapid test should not be taken as confirmed results. If the results are HIV-positive, it is necessary to confirm those results again before determining if there is definitely HIV infection.