Dentists Offer Rapid Tests

A private dentist in New York City has added a $15 rapid-result HIV test to the routine services offered at the practice.

"The topic of HIV can be uncomfortable for some, so we decided we would talk about it with patients in a matter-of-fact way, the way we talk about cavities and gum disease," Catrise Austin says.

Austin has provided the test to about 100 people since July. City-funded HIV testing is available at dental programs at Metropolitan Hospital, Harlem Hospital, Jacobi Medical Center, and community dental clinics.

The intervention is seen as an advancement in HIV detection, given that one in 10 Americans visit a dentist each year but not a physician.