Overview
- OraQuick uses an oral swab to detect HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies and provides results in about 20 minutes, offering a non-invasive alternative to finger-prick tests.
- The distributor expects a retail price between $15 and $20 per test.
- The test has a long track record, including U.S. approval in 2012, a 2016 World Health Organization recommendation, and use in about 60 countries, with studies showing performance comparable to blood-based self-tests.
- Advocates say free or low-cost distribution through front-line agencies is critical to reach priority populations and support Canada’s 2030 elimination goal, noting prior federal self-testing funds were not sustained though some provinces kept programs running.
- Public health data show 1,826 new HIV diagnoses in 2024 excluding Québec, with much higher rates in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and an estimated 7,000 Canadians living with undiagnosed HIV.