The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Saliva-based testing for HIV virus will help to cut costs, says expert

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Saliva-based testing for HIV virus will help to cut costs, says expert

Priscilla Jebaraj

"Many avoid conventional testing owing to fear and taboos"

VALUABLE TIPS: Beverly Watts Davis, Senior Adviser, United States Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration, giving a lecture on prevention of drug abuse at the work place, at the Madras School of Social Work on Tuesday. — Photo: S. R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI: Using saliva-based rapid testing for the HIV virus will help to cut cost and the time of diagnosis and prove more effective in fighting the epidemic in India, says Beverly Watts Davis, a senior adviser of the United States Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration.

She hopes to meet Health Ministry officials in New Delhi to discuss the possibility of sharing this technology with India.

"Blood testing is a deterrent," says Ms. Davis.

Many shy away from the conventional HIV testing involving the collection of blood samples owing to fear, cultural and social taboos and the cost and hassle involved.

An oral test can overcome these, especially since it costs just a fifth of the comprehensive blood testing in the U.S., she says.

The saliva-based test, which produces 99 per cent accurate results in just 20 minutes, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over two years ago.

It cuts the risk to health care workers of exposure to infected blood and reduces the possibilities of fraud.

Ms. Davis says that by encouraging wider testing, this method will help to bring to light the extent of the spread of AIDS.

She warns that AIDS cases often go undiagnosed, leading to distorted statistics that allow policy makers to underplay the urgency of the epidemic.

"If India has to learn anything from us, it's that denial doesn't work... you need to get it on the national radar screen," Ms Davis says. "When you present the real numbers, people can't put their heads in the sand."

Ms. Davis is in India to speak to non-governmental organisations, youth leaders and vulnerable sections about the importance of preventing substance abuse and to share the best practices and new treatment techniques. She feels it is vital to fight substance abuse, since it is often linked to crime, violence against women and the spread of AIDS.

According to her, 70 per cent of the HIV-infected are linked to substance abuse in some way. The Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration plans to partner with Indian treatment centres, providing kits containing material about techniques and the best practices.

A satellite broadcast used to train de-addiction workers in the U.S. can be available to Indian workers soon. Ms. Davis also hopes to organise a youth conference late next year to spread awareness among this high-risk group.

Drug-free workplaces

Speaking to HR managers and social work students, Ms. Davis emphasised the importance of creating drug-free workplaces. A model programme requires clear rules, active leadership from employers and the involvement of unions.

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