Testing for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases has become easier in Uganda following the invention of a machine that will be able to test people to see whether they are HIV positive in the comfort of their homes.

The new home test kit (you may read machine), also codenamed OraQuick was recently invented in the US but it has already reached Ugandaand East Africain general.

The kit detects the presence of HIV in saliva collected using a mouth swab. Now this dilutes the claims some scientists have been making that one can not contract HIV from saliva. The test kit was designed to return a result within 20 to 40 minutes.

The new test kit machine was manufactured by Orasure, a Pennsylvania-based lead maker of oral fluid diagnostic and collection devices but it was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The home test kit is considered by scientists and researchers to be one of the great innovations in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Dr. Joshua Musinguzi, the HIV/AIDS control programme manager in the ministry of health says that the home test kit is a good product because it does not need blood specimen.
Walakira Nyanzi

Ultimate Media