Los Angeles Times Examines Why U.S. Physicians Slow To Adopt Use of Rapid HIV Test

The Los Angeles Times on Monday examined the various reasons why rapid HIV tests, which give results in about 20 minutes and have been available since 2003, have been "slowly adopted" by U.S. physicians. According to a survey expected to be released next month by the American Academy of HIV Medicine, only about 5% of 300 private practice physicians in 10 states with high HIV prevalence reported using the rapid tests. Many doctors who do not offer to the test to their patients cited concern about the additional time needed to train staff to use the new tests and counsel patients and the possibility that many patients' insurance companies will not cover the cost of the new tests, leaving physicians to pay the $10 per test themselves, according to the survey (Costello, Los Angeles Times, 2/21). The complete article is available online.