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HIV Testing Options Increase: A Grant Makes Possible More Testing in Tulsa for Women at High Risk.

Posted on: Monday, 13 March 2006, 09:01 CST

By Nicole Nascenzi, Tulsa World, Okla.

Mar. 13--Women at high risk for HIV infection now have more testing options in Tulsa. The Tulsa Community Aids Partnership recently received a grant from the Oklahoma City-based Aids Care Fund to support the $14,000 Safe Sisters Program. The program will provide free 20-minute HIV testing for high-risk women and their partners, said Janice Nicklas, of the Community Service Council. "We are slowly seeing the numbers of infected women increase across the nation," Nicklas said. Nicklas said the definition of high risk is broad -- "anyone who feels they have been put at risk for HIV."

The rapid tests use an oral swab to gather a sample of saliva, then the swab is placed in a small vial of solution and results are available within 20 minutes, instead of the normal two weeks it takes to get results back on blood tests, Nicklas said. The rapid-testing technology, although highly accurate and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is a screening test. A blood test will be used to confirm the diagnosis, said Tommy Chesbro, vice president of Education and Advocacy for Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is helping to administer the Safe Sisters Program. Chesbro said the grant will provide for about 600 rapid tests, a part-time HIV tester and cover some administrative costs. Not only do the rapid tests get women their results faster, but it means patients with transportation problems do not have to find a way to come back to the clinic for results, Chesbro said. The collaborative effort to win the grant began in December 2004 when the Oklahoma State Health Department pulled support from more than 20 sites across Oklahoma. Since then the State Health Department has restored support for several Tulsa testing sites, but those sites are often limited to conducting blood tests, which take two weeks for results to come back. ------------

Nicole Nascenzi 581-8315 nicole.nascenzi@tulsaworld.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, Tulsa World, Okla.

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Source: Tulsa World

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