Abu Dhabi: An HIV saliva test kit has become available in the UAE for the first time, offering a bloodless and effective alternative means of detecting the disease.

Launched yesterday and touted as a 'revolutionary' diagnostic product, Aware Oral provides results within 20 minutes with a 99.8 per cent accuracy rate, according to its distributor Bin Salem Group-Medical Division.

Engineer Yousuf Al Nuaimi, acting Medical Division Manager of the group, said the test, which has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, was also cost-effective.

"We are currently working along with the Ministry of Health to determine a reasonable and affordable price of the product. However, it would be less than the amount [for] a regular HIV test [Dh300]," he said.

Al Nuaimi added that the test would first be available at government hospitals, clinics, medical centres and laboratories.