Orasure HIV Testing

The City of Columbia is committed to providing public health services that prevent epidemics and the spread of disease, protect against environmental hazards, promote healthy behaviors, prevent injuries and illness, assure the quality and accessibility of health services, monitor the health of the population, provide social services and promote and protect civil rights.

Free OraSure, OraQuick, and Clearview Stat-Pak HIV Testing

What is OraSure?

HIV antibody test
mouth swab test
requires up to 2 weeks to get results

What is OraQuick Advance?

HIV antibody test
finger stick blood test OR mouth swab test
results in 20 minutes
positive tests require a confirming blood test or OraSure test.

Clearview Stat-Pak

Results in 15 minutes
Finger stick blood test
HIV antibody test
Positive tests require a confirming blood test or OraSure test..

How is OraSure done?

a small pad on a plastic stick is placed between the gum and cheek, rubbed in a circular motion, and then allowed to remain in the closed mouth for 3 minutes
the pad is then placed in a container and sent to the State Health Laboratory where it is tested using techniques similar to those used with blood samples

How are OraQuick and Clearview tests done?

a tiny drop of blood is collected from a finger stick or blood tube
the testing is done on-site
OraQuick can also be performed as a mouth swab
tests for both HIV1 and HIV2 (HIV2 is found mostly in West Africa)

How do the oral tests work?

the mouth swabs do not test for HIV in saliva
they test for HIV antibodies which would be present in the tissue of the gums and cheek if an HIV infection were present

Are there any complaints about the OraSure tests?

your mouth may feel dry after the test, and you may not like the salty taste

How accurate are the tests?

OraSure mouth swab test is very accurate
OraSure is not as accurate as a blood test
- for example, it will miss finding 1 to 2 people with HIV out of 100 positive persons tested
as with blood tests, six to twelve weeks must pass after infection has occurred before enough antibodies have been produced for the test to detect them
an OraSure test performed three months after the potentially infectious event (sex without a condom or shared intravenous drug needles/equipment) is about 95% accurate
a test at 6 months will be the most accurate
The rapid result tests have proven to be highly accurate . . . on a par with or slightly more accurate than standard blood tests
all positive rapid result tests require us to draw a blood test as a confirming test

Do I have to give my name?

Stand blood drawn tests conducted at the health Department may be done anonymously
OraQuick and Clearview

anonymous testing is not available due to state regulations

OraSure
- anonymous testing is not an option in outreach locations
- if testing is performed at the Health Department, you have a choice of testing anonymously without giving your name or other identifying information, or testing confidentially
- if you choose to test confidentially, your name and address are necessary and a form of ID is requested
- Insurance companies, employers, etc. do not have access to test information or results
- only positive test information is shared with the state agency responsible for providing service to HIV positive persons

How do I get my results?

OraQuick and Clearview
- results given at time of testing
- you must be able to wait the 20 minutes, to receive results
OraSure
- provided in person if performed in an outreach setting (not by telephone)
- If the test was done in the clinic, results may be given over the phone.
- 10-14 days after the test is done
- if you lose the card with your individual test number and appointment time, you can still get your results using an Id which includes your birth date
- those testing anonymously must retain their card and present it to receive results

Why get an HIV test?

knowing if you have HIV will allow you to protect your own health and to prevent others from becoming infected
HIV infection responds best to medical treatments if they are begun as soon as possible after the infection takes place
if you are infected, you can get the information and help you need to stay healthy
by following safer sex and/or drug-use practices, you can protect others from HIV and stop the spread of the epidemic

What about other STDs?

if you think you may have a sexually transmitted disease such as Gonorrhea, Herpes, Chlamydia, etc., please come to our low cost STD clinic held every Tuesday evening from 5 PM - 7 PM
Syphilis and HIV blood tests are routinely offered to all who come to the STD clinic

For questions or testing, please contact us.

To learn more about STD's and HIV, please visit our external website directory.