[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 134 (Thursday, September 22, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          EARLY DETECTION METHODS IN AIDS NEED TO BE IMPROVED

                                 ______


                        HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 1994

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, as a Member of Congress from a State with 
one of the highest incidences of reported AIDS cases--nearly 52,000 in 
1992--I see a definite need for improvement in our early detection 
methods. Many people are afraid to go to a clinic or doctor's office to 
be tested, either because they do not trust the doctor, or fear that if 
their test is positive, the information would be given to unauthorized 
persons. We can help remove that burden of fear through home access to 
HIV testing. As a strong advocate of education, prevention, and 
improved resources for treatment, I respectfully submit this editorial 
to the Congressional Record.
  The following editorial appeared in El Diario La Prensa of New York 
City on July 21, 1994.

       Last month, the New York State Department of Health took a 
     great step forward in deciding to support new test options 
     for the detection of AIDS. Specifically, it agreed to provide 
     AIDS testing and counseling in the privacy of their home for 
     the individuals who request it.
       Unfortunately, the Federal Drug Administration [FDA] has 
     yet not approved this plan, even after 7 years of 
     consideration. On June 22, the FDA conducted yet another 
     study on the plan and decided to create an advisory committee 
     to consider if they should approve the initiative.
       Acceso Directo al Diagnostico [Direct Access to Diagnosis], 
     a New Jersey-based group, is trying to get this initiative 
     approved to facilitate commercialization of tests and 
     counseling services that will allow people to obtain the 
     results of their AIDS tests immediately, at a lower cost and 
     in the privacy of their own homes.
       At the June 22 FDA hearing, a group of medical experts, 
     activist's, politicians and AIDS patients, asked the Food and 
     Drug Administration for the immediate approval of AIDS home 
     testing. Some of the witnesses asserted that home testing 
     will reduce costs. Most importantly and according to the 
     majority of witnesses, most of the people that are tested for 
     AIDS, take the test too late. If the home testing is 
     approved, the fear of discrimination and the loss of privacy 
     would be eliminated. These are the main reasons for which the 
     general public is not being tested for AIDS. Dr. Glenn Tynan, 
     policy director for the AIDS Institute of New York, 
     represented the State at the public hearings in Washington, 
     DC, and voiced his support for the FDA to approve home 
     testing.

  This is an issue of vital importance for the Hispanic community. 
While the Nation may think that this is a homosexual problem, the truth 
of the matter is that AIDS is the principal cause of death for Hispanic 
women between 25 and 34 years old in New York and New Jersey. One of 
the Puerto Rican leaders commented in the hearing:

       While politicians are talking about crime and violence in 
     our streets, AIDS is underhandedly stealing a generation of 
     Puerto Rican women and children.

  Each day we lose at least a dozen people in the Hispanic community. 
Since there is no cure for the disease, the home testing is one of our 
most effective weapons.
  It seems like a simple decision.
  I ask Doctor David Kessler, Commissioner of the FDA, to approve home 
testing for the detection of the AIDS virus without further delay. In 
the Hispanic communities throughout the Nation, this is a matter of 
life or death.

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