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HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Nov. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A federal panel's recommendation this week to broaden HIV testing to include nearly all persons 15 to 64 years of age is an important health care development that could result in a significant decrease in the spread of HIV and AIDS, Home Access Health Corporation, the leading manufacturer of at-home laboratory services, said today.
On Monday, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent group operating within the Department of Health and Human Services, issued draft guidelines that call for widespread HIV testing as a means to reduce the incidence of AIDS.
"The Preventive Services Task Force's recommendations are an important step forward to combat the spread of AIDS," said Mary Vogt, President of Home Access Health Corporation. "Too many Americans are simply unaware they are carrying the HIV virus. Knowing their HIV status is critical and broader testing is the answer."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 50,000 new HIV infections will occur in the United States this year. An estimated 1.2 million Americans are currently living with HIV, but about 20 percent – or 240,000 people – are unaware they have the infection.
"Our experience tells us that many at-risk individuals avoid screening due to concerns about the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. These individuals want the accuracy of a lab test, while maintaining the confidentiality and anonymity of at-home results. Increased testing can lead to earlier medical treatment and prevent the transmission of infection," Vogt said. "It's vital for consumers to have the best opportunity for accurate, complete HIV testing and we applaud the Task Force's recommendations."
Home Access Health Corporation manufactures a test that provides an option for anonymous HIV testing. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996, the Home Access
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