Name: Canada gets first oral HIV test using simple gum swab
Uploaded: 2026-02-11T04:48:39.275Z
Duration: 1 min 59 s
Description: Canada just got a new tool in the fight against HIV-AIDS in the form of an over-the-counter HIV test that requires no blood sample, just a swab of saliva from the gums.

Canada just got a new tool in the fight against HIV-AIDS in the form of an over-the-counter HIV test that requires no blood sample, just a swab of saliva from the gums.

Toronto

Health Canada has approved the OraQuick oral HIV self-test after five years of clinical trials at community-based organizations across the country. The test uses a gum swab and delivers results in approximately 20 minutes, eliminating the need for blood samples. 

More than 65,000 people live with HIV in Canada, with an estimated 7,000 unaware of their status. Advocates highlight the importance of making testing accessible and affordable, particularly for high-risk groups, and are calling for government funding to distribute the kits, which cost between $15 and $20 each.

Canada gets first oral HIV test using simple gum swab

In these boxes, a new tool that can help in the fight against HIV-AIDS. It's a huge breakthrough. An HIV self-test that involves no blood, just your saliva. Health Canada approved the OraQuick test after five years of clinical trials at community-based organizations across the country. Sean Rourke led that research. A lot of people read the newspaper and think that HIV is over. It's not. So there's a place that we can get to where everybody has been tested, know their status, and get connected to treatment. So in it you'll see is the swab, the oral swab. The kit is simple to use. A swab of the gums, dropped in a solution. Results about 20 minutes later. The one line will show the test worked. The second line will mean that the person has been reactive or is positive for HIV. More than 65,000 people live with HIV in Canada. And it's estimated 7,000 people don't know they have it. In Winnipeg, there's an urgency to get people tested. The province had one of the highest rates of new HIV cases in 2024. There's more we have to do to make it easier for people and safer for people to know their status. This health centre supports people living with the virus and was part of the clinical trials. And we know there will be a lot of interest amongst folks who don't regularly access the health care system, which is exactly who we want to reach out to and get this test available to. Those at heightened risk include racialized communities, men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs. And early detection can save lives. They can live a long and healthy life. HIV is no longer a death sentence. People that take medication can also have undetectable viral loads. The cost of a kit is between $15 and $20. Advocates say what they need now is government funding to get tests into the hands of those who need them. Tashauna Reid, CBC News, Toronto.

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