marco@ozdaltx.UUCP (Steve Giammarco) (02/27/91)
There has been some discussion about ELISA tests for HIV-antibody costing $30. FYI: The actual cost of the test in laboratories designed to batch said tests together ranges from $2.67 to $6.00 each. This is the cost of the test kit. Add in overhead and the cost of drawing the sample and we're probably at $10.00 each draw (no counseling involved). A negative ELISA stops at one test kit used. Labs charge $30 to spread the extra cost of retesting HIV+ samples onto the whole test group to encourage flat fee pricing. DEPENDING ON LOCALE, a blood donation is probably tested just once. HIV+ = Scrap the unit and contact the donor. HIV- = Use the unit. Screening samples is nowhere near $30 each. It is lower than $10 most likely. -- Steve Giammarco 5330 Peterson Ln #1211 Dallas TX 75240 214.788.0976 AIDS Resource Center 4012 Cedar Springs Rd Dallas TX 75219 214.521.5124 X.400(C:USA A:Western Union N:Steve Giammarco D:ELN-62847823) Easylink:62847823 {mic,void,egsner}!ozdaltx!marco || {uunet,smu,ames}!sulaco!ozdaltx!marco