Thinking outside the box: Promoting routine access to rapid HIV testing could help increase early diagnosis of the virus.
Eight out of 10 patients would be willing to get a rapid HIV test during a visit to their dentist.
A study to be released at the Sydney University HIV Testing Symposium on Wednesday reveals widespread support for dentists being able to offer HIV testing to patients.
Of the 82 per cent of patients who said they would be prepared to be HIV tested at a dentist’s office, almost three-quarters would opt for a saliva swab, 15 per cent preferred a pinprick test and 8 per cent preferred a traditional blood test, according to the study of more than 500 dental patients in Sydney.
But less than half of dentists would be prepared and willing to offer rapid HIV testing, the researchers said.