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SOUTHERN VOICE » DECEMBER 29/1994 Conservatives push FDA for quick approval of HIV home test Washington, DC—AIDS activists are questioning the credentials of conservative groups demanding speedy government ap proval for an experimental home test kit to detect HIV. The heads of two conservative organi zations, the Free Congress Foundation and the Institute for Justice, held a news confer ence Dec. 13 demanding that the Food and Drug Administration move quickly to ap prove the home test. In the absence of FDA approval, the groups signaled they may seek legal or legislative remedy. But the head of the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association, which has raised concerns about home testing, questioned the organizations' commitment to the fight against the disease. "Where are these people coming from?" asked executive director Christopher Portelli, whose organization is an umbrella group for 11 clinics that provide HIV test ing for some 150,000 people annually. "I don't see any contributions these people have made in the fight against AIDS," he added. Paul Weyrich, president of the Free Con gress Foundation and a founder of National Empowerment Television, said he feels com pelled to speak out because the situation isn't improving. "The FDA now for seven years has sat on a proposal for home access HIV testing and counseling," Weyrich told a news con ference. "We are not going to tolerate this unconscionable delay any longer and if they persist we will seek a legislative remedy, which I think is now very possible given the new political realities in Washington." Joining the organizations in their request for rapid approval of the home test kit was Texas Congressman Ralph Hall, a conserva tive Democrat not usually inclined toward activism on health issues. The issue of home testing has proved quite controversial. Proponents contend hundreds of thou sands of Americans who currently decline to be tested at public health clinics would take advantage of a test they could buy at a drug store and use in the privacy of their home. Critics question whether the telephone counseling offered with the home test would be adequate to inform about health risks and guard against suicide. They also are wor ried that the test could be misused by em ployers and that the testing could provide inaccurate results. MICHELLE MHTELSTADT OUR CUSTOMERS know us best... // B EING treated with courtesy and respect is important to me! ATLANTA CLASSIC treats me with the consideration and regard I expect. When my friends are looking for professional automobile sales with quality service, I'm always pleased to recommend ATLANTA CLASSIC!" Michael Ay cock ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS "WHERE THE SAFEST CAR IN THE WORLD IS MORE AFFORDABLE" 1655 CHURCH STREET DECATUR, GEORGIA 30033 404/296-1313 T' 1