Do you have 60 seconds to help prevent the spread of HIV?
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — This National HIV Testing Day, community partners are hoping to reduce the spread of the virus by providing free, fast testing at 250 convenient locations across the U.S.
Free 1 Minute INSTI HIV tests are available at select Walgreens locations nationwide this Friday
One-minute INSTI test maker bioLytical Laboratories has partnered with Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS to donate 10,000 tests in support of free testing events taking place nationwide.
bioLytical is proud to be working with the largest pharmacy chain in the United States as well as the Kaiser Family Foundation’s collaboration of Community Based Organizations (CBOs), AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) and private partners who make up the Greater Than AIDS coalition in bringing fast, accurate testing technology to communities.
This Friday, the public can get tested for free at one of 250 Walgreens locations across the U.S. – and it only takes a minute.
“The INSTI test is very well suited to events of this kind because results are available immediately,” says Dr. Chris Shackleton, CEO of bioLytical Laboratories. “Having a diagnostic tool that eliminates wait times increases the feasibility of testing at community healthcare and outreach settings, such as pharmacies, health fairs and mobile units.”
Other rapid HIV tests can require 15 to 40 minutes to run, which can deter people from testing or from returning for their results. With INSTITM, Dr. Shackleton adds, “We’ve found more people say ‘Yes’ to the test — and stay for their results.”
In addition to being the fastest test in the world, INSTI is over 99% accurate and the most sensitive rapid antibody test currently on the point of care market—meaning it can detect HIV earlier than all other tests of its kind, according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data. The test uses a drop of fingerstick blood which is proven to be more accurate than oral fluid.
It is estimated that over 1.1 million people are HIV positive in America and 1 in 6 don’t know they are infected. Individuals on treatment can reduce their risk of spreading the virus by as much as 96%.
The first step is taking the test, and the CDC recommends routine HIV screening for all Americans aged 15 to 65 – not just those deemed to be “at risk.”
“Knowing your HIV status is part of routine healthcare and should be accessible to everyone,” Dr. Shackleton went on to say. “We feel privileged to be able to offer our INSTITM technology to Walgreens, who have been a resource since the beginning of the epidemic, and to the CBOs and ASOs on the front lines linked by the tremendous education, outreach and destigmatizing efforts of Greater Than AIDS.”
To get your free INSTITM test at a Walgreens near you, check the interactive map on greaterthan.org
bioLytical™ Laboratories develops and manufactures rapid diagnostic assays. INSTI™ is a unique, simple-to-use diagnostic kit used in the diagnosis of HIV infection. At 60 seconds for a reading, INSTI™ is the fastest HIV diagnostic assay in the world today. For more information, please visit bioLytical.com