June 21, 1999

Now you can be tested for HIV without the pain of a needle.

Public health centers across Utah are now offering a new oral HIV test.

Besides being painless, 'Orasure' can be taken by minors as young as 13, without parental consent.

All this test involves is a swab between the cheek and gum.

But contrary to what you might think, the cotton pad is not sampling saliva.

The four-minute test works by extracting antibodies that are present in your cheek and gum.

HIV cannot be spread through saliva, but doctors can trace the virus through antibodies.

Clinical team manager Debbie Lee says, "The test results are back within seven to 10 days, same return time as the blood tests."

The same confidentiality rules that apply with HIV blood tests apply with Orasure.

Only the person's initials, combined with a random number are marked on the testing kit.

Health officials hope this pain-free method of tesing for HIV will appeal to "at risk" groups and pregnant women in Utah.

HIV Prevention Coordinator, Cynthia Snyder, says, "There's a lot of people who shy away from needles because they're so afraid of having their blood drawn. And especially someone who is an injection-drug user or even has difficult veins-- I think this is a great option."

Statistics show only one-percent of every 400 HIV tests comes back positive.

If Orasure detects HIV antibodies, you then must have a blood test.

Orasure is FDA approved, and according to studies it's 99-percent accurate.

The test is not affected by medications or other oral conditions.

Starting Friday, eight health centers around the Salt Lake Valley will offer free HIV tests to the public.