Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/10/18
By: Chen Wei-ting and Lilian Wu
A health official demonstrates the device used for a HIV saliva quick-test program.
Taipei, Oct. 18 (CNA) Four people have been confirmed HIV- positive after using a home quick-test program launched by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) last month.
The CDC started the HIV saliva quick-test program Sept. 1, and as of the end of that month, more than 1,000 people had used the test kits.
Citizens from Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung have used the test kits more than in other cities, but in terms of population, the ratio of Hualien citizens taking the test has been higher.
Huang Shih-tze (黃士澤), a doctor with the CDC, said that HIV patients can now be treated with better drugs, but some are unwilling to go to hospital for testing out of privacy concerns. [FULL STORY]