FDA Panel Supports Rapid, At-Home HIV Test

Home HIV tests should be sold in retail stores, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel urged Tuesday. If approved by the FDA, a mouth-swab test made by OraSure Technologies Inc.and sold commercially to health professionalswould become available over the counter. That way, people could check if they had the virus within the privacy of their own homes. The 20-minute test is 93 percent accurate for positive results and 99.8 percent for negative, according to the manufacturer. About 240,000 Americans are unaware they are HIV positive, and are responsible for between 50 and 70 percent of the 50,000 new infections each year. "There is huge global momentum in support of over-the-counter testing for HIV," Nitika Pant Pai, an assistant professor of medicine at Montreal's McGill University who co-authored an analysis of the effectiveness of an at-home HIV test earlier this year, told HealthDay. "People desire private, discreet options that protect their confidentiality." It's unclear how much the over-the-counter test would cost.

How to Cope With Criticism

You're looking a little pudgy these days. Why didn't you get that promotion? You should be doing a better job with the kids. Why isn't the house cleaner?

Criticism stings. Yes, you're going to feel deflated and defensive, and you're probably going to take it personally. Certainly, it's easier to give than receive. "No one enjoys being criticized, especially if it's unfair," says psychologist Harriet Lerner, author of The Dance of Anger. "Yet how well we respond determines how our relationships go, both at work and at home. A lot is at stake."

It's possible to master the art of coping with criticism, which is important for your well-being: "If you don't learn how to deal with criticism, it'll likely elevate your stress level and compromise your mental and emotional functioning," says psychologist Leon Seltzer, who's based in Del Mar, Calif. "Like everything else, it's best not to let things get to you. That's why learning how to effectively 'process' criticism is so important to happiness and well-being."

Next time you're in the hot seat, try these nine tactics:

1. Breathe. Do what you can to remain calm. Slow your breathing and take a long, deep breath before speaking. When you're on guard, your nervous system quickens, interfering with your ability to appropriately listen and respond.

2. Postpone the conversation if necessary. If deep breaths don't help and you're too riled to engage in a reasonable conversation, trying to listen could actually do more harm than good. Tell the other person that you recognize the conversation's importance, but that you can't have it at that moment. Schedule another time so you can be prepared and ready to talk. [Read more: How to Cope With Criticism]

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Health Buzz: Home HIV Test Backed By FDA Panel