Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site aecom.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!cmcl2!philabs!aecom!werner From: werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) Newsgroups: net.motss,net.med Subject: Test for exposure to AIDS Message-ID: <1075@aecom.UUCP> Date: Thu, 3-Jan-85 15:49:47 EST Article-I.D.: aecom.1075 Posted: Thu Jan 3 15:49:47 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 6-Jan-85 00:22:16 EST Distribution: net Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY Lines: 59 Xref: watmath net.motss:1402 net.med:1174 <><><><><><><>><><><> Second of a set of occasional articles on AIDS AIDS is an acronym for Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Some notes on that name: Syndrome is a technical term meaning we don't know what causes it, or exactly what it does, but it appears often enough that we need a name. AIDS has up to now been diagnosed not directly but by the appearance of certain opportunistic infections, such as Kaposi's Sarcoma. [Incidentally, AIDS-associated Kaposi's Sarcoma generally only occurs in Gays, IV-drug users tend not to show Kaposi's but tend to show other opportunistic infections.] By this time, the immunosuppression characteristic of AIDS has already occurred and the disease is invariably fatal within a few years. (7000 have already died.) Now there is a way to detect exposure to the virus that reputedly causes AIDS, HTLV-3. It is a simple blood test, easy to do and very reliable. It involves antibodies to the virus. Some sample data on the test: Group % HTLV-3 positive AIDS patients 99.7% pre-AIDS ~90% Healthy Homosexuals (in SF) ~70-80% IV Drug Users [I don't have this one ~50%?] Hemophiliacs required F-VIII ~30% Random Healthy Heterosexuals 0.003% The test is not in wide use, however, for several NON-MEDICAL but rather POLITICAL reasons. The first is reporting. Since no one knows what a Positive sign means. (Several of the Healthy Homosexuals who were tested AIDS positive later came down with the disease, but it was a very miniscule percentage.) Do you tell someone? The psychic risk was judged to be too great by some. The second reason is similar. The test was designed to protect the integrity of the blood banks. Therefore it was suggested to keep a registry of those with HTLV-3 Positive blood (Like ABO and Rh typing) and only use that blood for research purposes not for transfusion. [It is done now in NY by a consent form which is confidential.] Well, Gay groups protested vigorously. Look at the data and see why. The test is very good for identifying those with AIDS. But it is almost as good for identifying homosexuals (at least in SF - other parts of the country may vary.) and they feared labeling. Articles could be written on this alone, but I must go on. The third reason is that people feared that people who may have been exposed to AIDS might be more likely to give blood (using donation as a diagnostic test) to see if they really have the disease, causing much more contamination of the blood supply than already exists, especially if the test is not available in large enough quantities or is not sensitive enough and misses some HTLV-3 contaminated blood. The variations are enormous, but I prefer shorter articles. Next time: AIDS in Africa, Heterosexual Transmission. -- Craig Werner !philabs!aecom!werner What do you expect? Watermelons are out of season!