Philadelphia Plans To Increase HIV Testing Citywide Through Mobile Units, Improved Access to Rapid Tests

Philadelphia over the next few months plans to increase the number of HIV tests conducted citywide through new mobile testing units and improved access to rapid HIV tests among people who do not have regular access to health care services, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The three new mobile units, which brings the city's total to four, and the 16,500 kits of OraSure Technologies' oral OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test will be financed out of $1.5 million in new state funds, most of which will be allocated for testing efforts, state Sen. Vincent Hughes (D) announced last month. Philadelphia aims to make the OraQuick tests available by June in emergency departments, homeless shelters, substance use clinics and halfway houses, according to John Cella, director of the AIDS Activities Coordinating Office. He added that once the OraQuick tests are available citywide, they will continue to be made available with existing funds, primarily from the federal government, for the AIDS Activities Coordinating Office. Employees at various city agencies are being trained to obtain certification for implementing the OraQuick tests (Wagh, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/1).