By Kelly Puente, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/04/2010 04:12:08 PM PDT
Updated: 10/04/2010 04:59:32 PM PDT
LONG BEACH - Cal State Long Beach has been awarded a $1.7 million research grant to study the accuracy and acceptability of rapid tests for HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis, officials said.
Through rapid testing a patient is able to receive results on the same day they are tested.
Currently, there are no rapid tests available in the United States for syphilis or combined tests for HIV and hepatitis C. While the there are rapid tests available for HIV, newer, more accurate tests have been developed and are awaiting approval from the Federal Drug Administration.
Officials say rapid testing could increase the number of those receiving test results and could in turn help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
"Traditional testing for infectious diseases requires clients to return for their test results one or two weeks after providing a sample. But, there are many people who don't return to get their results," said Dennis Fisher, director of behavioral research at Cal State Long Beach. "We believe this project can have a significant impact on the future of screening for infectious diseases in the U.S."
The project, which started on Thursday, will help the FDA gain a better understanding of who selects rapid tests and why. It could lead to the FDA's approval of the experimental tests, officials said.
The project will examine the accuracy and acceptability of six rapid tests for HIV, syphilis, and/or hepatitis C among high-risk groups including gay men, bisexual men and injection drug users.
Fisher believes the combined test for HIV and hepatitis C could be especially helpful in preventing the spread of disease among injected-drug users because it encourages HIV testing in the population.
The four-year grant for the school's Center for Behavioral Research and Services was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
kelly.puente@presstelegram.com, (562) 499-1305
Source
No comments:
Post a Comment