Health Report

Dispelling Some Popular Myths & Misconceptions

An extract taken from "Dispelling Some Popular Myths & Misconceptions", published in DysCourse Vol.6 No.3

(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.)

Amplicor H.I.V.-1 Monitor Test Gets T.G.A. Approval

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (T.G.A.) has granted market approval for Roche's Amplicor H.I.V.-1 Monitor Test, the first commercial test to accurately measure the quantity of H.I.V. (H.I.V.-1 R.N.A.) in a person's blood (viral load). Recent trials have shown a direct correlation between high levels of H.I.V. in the blood and H.I.V. related illness. The new test will become a vital tool in improving the longevity of people with H.I.V. by indicating H.I.V. disease prognosis and monitoring the effects of antiretroviral therapies.

The test uses polymerase chain reaction (P.C.R.) technology, a process which amplifies and identifies specific D.N.A. or R.N.A. sequences. This technology is able to detect viral loads as low as 400 H.I.V. R.N.A. copies/mL much lower than other technologies such as branch D.N.A. (b.D.N.A.), which is accurate to 10,000 H.I.V. R.A.N. copies/mL.

The Amplicor H.I.V.-1 Monitor Test has been a vital component in recent clinical studies and the basis for the accelerated approval of a number of new H.I.V. drugs including protease inhibitors - the first new class of H.I.V. / AIDS therapeutics to be introduced since 1987.

"Many of the newer antiretroviral therapies create a dramatic drop in viral load and it is important for us to monitor this drop with as much sensitivity as possible. The Amplicor H.I.V.-1 Monitor Test provides a better understanding of the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapies and the impact of low viral loads on the progression of H.I.V. infection, which we are confident will lead to new therapies and improved disease management" states Dr. Davis Kingston, Medical Director, Roche Products Australia.

This is untrue, for both pre-operative and post-operative transsexual people can be infected by H.I.V. / AIDS: In fact, people have died of AIDS both pre-operatively, post-operatively and traveling in either direction.

A M.T.F.s vagina can be impregnated with H.I.V. / AIDS infection via little tears, cuts and sores: For wherever possible the surgeon will have left the adjacent blood supply intact. Similarly, infections may be passed on in turn to someone else principally through unprotected penetrative sex.

With today's G.R.S., the surgeon will probably leave the prostate gland as a source of body fluid and lubricant to help with intercourse/orgasm; therefore, the advice given regarding such fluids applies in this instance.

F.T.M.s also emit, exude and extrude body fluids when having penetrative sex, so that they can transmit, or receive an infection from a positive partner. Being on male hormones does not make them immune from H.I.V. and AIDS.

Discussion should be encouraged to overcome the fear of showing ignorance, getting embarrassed, or being prejudiced; whilst H.I.V. / AIDS thrives on silence. There should be encouragement [amongst us] to increase the openness and honesty about sex.

By preventing an effective dialogue from being developed we run the risk of spreading infection by proliferation of myths and the suppression of truth.

Polare is published in Australia by The Gender Centre Inc. which is funded by the Department of Community Services under the S.A.A.P. Program and supported by the N.S.W. Health Department through the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch. Polare provides a forum for discussion and debate on gender issues. Advertisers are advised that all advertising is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. Unsolicited contributions are welcome, though no guarantee is made by the Editor that they will be published, nor any discussion entered into. The editor reserves the right to edit such contributions without notification. Any submission which appears in Polare may be published on our internet site. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, The Gender Centre Inc.I, the Department of Community Services or the N.S.W. Department of Health.